Class^ Book- d^ RECORD mM^^" AND ILLUSTRATED fs-t- ^COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRAPHYg -Hr CONTAINING A COMPENDIUM OF LOCAL BIOGRAPHY Including Biographical Sketclu-s of Hundreds cif Prominent Old Settlers and Representa- tive Citizens of COLUMBIA. SAUK and ADAMS COUNTIES, WISCONSIN, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with the Growth and Develop- ment of this Region; Reminiscences of Personal History and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and \'aluable Matter which sliould be Preserved in History. ALSO A COMPENDIUM OF LOCAL BIOGRAPHY, Containing Biograiihical Sketches of Hundreds of ' the Greatest Men and Celebrities America has I'rodiiced iu Various Walks of Life, including Great Statesmen. Lawyers, Jurists, Scientists, Editors. J'oets. Writers, Financiers. Kailroad Magnates, Army and Navy Officers, Inventors, Speculators, Scouts, Merchant Princes, Humorists, Electricians. Educators, Preachers, Philanthropists, Artists. Manufacturers, Abolitionists, Kxplorers, All tlie Presidents, etc. ILLUSTRATED. GEO. A. OGLE & CO. Engravers and Book Mi" 1901. 14 ? -'5 Allen, N. E" 554 Alverson, Miles T 410 Anacker, Moritz B 677 Anacker, William E 839 Andrus, William 78'2 Appel, George U 477 Ashley, Ernst P 515 Ashley, Hon. Yates 514 Atcherson, Oscar 456 Austin, Ch-iuncey J '245 Avery, Hon. Frank 250 Ayers, Charles J 676 Ayers, Royal 675 Bacon, David N 458 Bacon, George V 271 Bacon. Rev. Joseph F 606 Bahl, Peter 385 Baker, Charles 683 Bartholomew, M. C. 680 Bartholomew, Robert N 679 Barton, John, Sr 429 Beach, Isaac 702 Bell, Robert 635 Bell, Stewart C 687 Bement. Benjamin S 505 Bendixen, Capt. Ole M 388 Bentley, .Monroe 716 Bidwel'l, William B .-. . 547 Billings, Dana D e,52 Blake, John W 550 Bogue, Alan . 870 Bohn, Christopher E 725 Bohn, Robert L 587' Bolting, Francis J 361 Bonham, James L 507 Bonnell, David T 742 Boutwell, John 417 Boutwell, Simon 416 Bowen, Joseph 686 Bremner Bros 480 Brenmer, Charles .-\ 481 Bremner, George H 431 Brimmer, William 651 Brown, Amos 324 Brown, Edward R 4.58 Brown, Salmon 2."i6 Buckley, Lewis H 569 Biillen, Hon. Winslow 734 Bushnell, J. .Monroe 479 Campbell, Daniel DeW 279 Canon, William O 578 I'AGE Carpenter, Newel, Sr 299 Cavana jgh, Perry 646 Chipman, William R 687 Clapp, Edwin O 634 Clark, Charles C 443 Coapnian, lames W 321 Colbtirn, Alonzo W 598 Colburn, Harvey B 563 Colburn, J. P 594 Colburn, Sherman 676 Colby, Thomas P 724 Colby, Warren 1 301 Coleman, Daniel B 810 Collins, Sanlord A 355 Collipp, Platon G 248 Colonius, Charles A 628 Condon, Rev. Robert B 510 Cook, George R 682 Cook, William 408 Coplev, lohn. . 351 Corliss, Dr. Allen T 292 Cottington, Amos 485 Coughran, Samuel 270 Councelman, Fernando 714 Cros^, Fremont J ,. 741 Crothers, James .M 284 Cuddy, William T 679 Cuff, W'iUiam 619 Curtis, F. C 468 Curtis, Harry H 289 Dangel, Peter 697 Darrow, Henry A 498 Davis, Rees J 647 Decker, John R 264 Delanv, Charles W 644 Delany, Miles B 546 Dering, Capt. Oscar M 349 Dieruf, F. A 658 Dittbender, Fritz 320 Dittbender, L 820 Donnelly, Hugh ... 487 Donnelly, Thomas W 291 Dooley.John H 381 Dorsett, A. D 718 Doyle, Lemuel H 350 Drager, Gus 462 Dunn, Thomas W 383 Eaton, Clarence C 260 F'aton, Edward 846 Edmin.ster, Lewis 272 Edwards, Dr. .Adelbert 745 Edwards, William J 649 I'AGE Effinger, Ferdinaml 286 Ellinwood, Capt. .A. P 640 Ely, Oscar Clarke 341 Emery, Samuel 606 English, John 595 Epstein, Henry 69n Ernsperger, Cecil R 4s8 Evans, Jacob C 533 Evans, William R 452 Evarts, C. L 566 Evarts, William H 566 Ferris, John 692 Field, Floyd A 442 Held, Henry A 648 Fisher, Edward J 826 Fisher, Dr. William 265 Foat, William J 419 Foley, Martin F 335 f'orbush, Chehar 261 Ford, Capt. Ira H 253 Foreman, Henry 697 Forrest, James F 674 Foster, Albert W 627 Foster, John 664 Fritz, Christ 840 Fuhrmann, Albert 296 Fuller, William W 755 Galbraith, William J 623 Galston, Robert , 495 Gardner, Lorenzo ;}i^ Gattiker, John J - , 620' Gethers, Henry S4tJ8 Gilbert, Warren 876 Giles, Frederick 596 Ginder, John 520 Gloeckler, Theodore 280 Goman, John 437 Goodman, Maurice 252 Goodrich, George 281 Goodyear, Darius A 246 Gottry, Edward C 294 Grady, Daniel H 726 Graham, John McC 715 Graham, .Scott T 716 (jreen, Joseph L 266 Greenwood, Robert 686 Griffin, John G 421 Gunnison, Pliny H 695 Guppy, Genl. Joshua J 228 Hamilton, Frederick B 408 Hanson, Hans A 286 Harrington, George 689 TABLE OF CONTENTS—PART II. PAGE Harris, Abner L (i60 Harris, Ananias 387 Harris, Milo 893 Harvey, Ole J 5S0 Hasey, James H 467 Hasey, Jnhn 457 Haskins, Daniel S 748 Hastings, Dr. Thomas R 42(3 Hasz, Rev. Martin 446 Hatton, James ' 295 Hayes, Philip 408 Hayes, William A 844 Heath, De.xter S 88H Hecocks, .■\. E 608 Hendrickson, Holver 415 Hennch, John .558 Henrich, Peter 558 Henry, Hon. John A 345 Henry, John C 540 Hickey. Patrick 728 Hindes, Hon. Lemuel P 74(i Hodges. A.J 819 Hofstatter, Stephen 518 Holden. Henry S (i07 Holm, Andrew O , 265 Hopkins, WdlianiH. 447 Hotchkiss, Ernest A 577 Hotchkiss, Mortimer 577 Hotctikiss, Ruel 576 Houghton, Charles H 515 Houston, John H 825 Howland, Thomas 440 H uber. Urban 710 Hughes, William 490 Hulburt, Hon. David B 800 Huiburt, Dr. Frank D 444 Hume, William A 711 Hungerford, Stei^hen 670 Hunt, Dr. Frank O -.588 Hutchinson, Henry 574 Hyatt, Mrs. Amelia 618 Hyatt, William F 619 Island Woolen Mills, The. .. . 752 Jacobs, Marion 450 Jamieson, Hugh 665 Jarvis, John C 609 Jaques, Peter G 6-56 Jenkins, Dr. George W 688 Jerome, John 812 Jones, Chester 750 Jones, James E 485 Jones, Nelson 871 Jones, Norman 358 Kahl, William H 567 Keach, Henry H 757 Keith, George C 527 Kelley, Lafayette M 828 Kelloge, Hon. John 786 Kendall, Levi G 4(15 Kendall, William B 405 Kershaw, Thomas C 731 Keysar. Miles H 600 King, Robert T 482 King, William 482 Kinney, William T 708 Knapp, Comfort H 374 Koch, Rev. Otto H 624 Kreuger, Edward 599 P.^GE Krisch, Alois 865 Knsch, Otto 364 Lachmund, Paul 705 Laffan, John .530 Lathrop, Marvin E 789 Lawn, Dr. James 290 Leute, Thaddeus 400 Lewis, Mrs. Electa P 691 Lewis, Hon. James Taylor 221 Lohr, Gottlieb 263 Low, Capt. Gideon 787 Luce, 1 ra C 704 Luckow, Edward L 625 McChesney, Rev. James H 259 McElwam, Calvin 719 McFeiridge, James A 753 McLeish, Mrs. Jane 266 McLeish, William 2()6 Mc.Mahon, Hugh 5.57 McMahon, John E 451 McWiiliams, Ira 712 MacKenzie, James C. 680 Maegerlein, Francis 645 Mair, Charles .524 Mair, Thomas 404 Marden, Rev. Alfred C 7.54 Warden, iMrs. Ella J 7.54 Marsden, Dr. Arthur 261 Marsh, Edward N 418 Martin, Charles 459 Mason, Arthur H 616 Mason, Herbert L 588 Mason, Hiram H 288 Matthews, Orlando 639 Ma.vfield, Edmond .540 Meredith, John 599 Metcalf, Holton B 698 Mever, William C 616 Meyer, William C. A 448 Miller, Berdux. 577 Mitchell, Dr. Robert 356 Morley, Isaac W 681 Morley, Myron M 662 Morse', Lyman N 399 Morse, Uri. 570 Murphy, David 709 Murphy, Edward 708 .Murray, Lyman A 439 Neff, Curtis B. 673 Nehls, Albert W 293 Ninman. Charles F 288 Noble, George F " 548 Norton, John B 672 Noyes, Col. D. K 229 Nutting-, Charles A 693 Obrecht, Christian 409 Obrion, Horace S 667 Olson, Henry N 626 Owen, John 383 Owen, John G 235 Owen, Hon. William 239 Paddock, Hon. Benjamin G... 474 Page, Henry D 654 Palmer, James Parson 701 Pardee, John 518 Patrick, Andrew 685 Paulson, Nels 666 Payne, George B 6.65 PAGE Pearson, Charles 385 Pearson, Manelious 384 Pease, Dr. William A 854 Pells, Jeremiah.. .583 Perry, Israel 568 Peterson, Peter N 519 Phelps, Wilhs 442 Pierce, Hon. Solon W 224* Porter, Arthur .\ 610 Price, James 623 Proctor, Hon. William H 242 Prouty, John Byron 372 Ramsey, Robert M 365 Rathbun, William W 274 Reed, Calvin E 244 Keighard, Ellis W 456 Reighard, Jacob H 455 Reynolds, Andrew T 539 Reynolds, George E 688 Reynolds, Thomas 638 Rich, Henry 751 Riddle, Joseph H 302 Rice, Griffith R 332 Rice. Rev. Thomas J 832 Ricliards, Peter. .' 668 Richmond, John S 604 Richmond, Kiley S 842 Ritchev,Rev. John H 270 Ritter, Frank L 718 Robbins, William H 313 Roberts, Chauncey F 816 Roberts, Foulk R 700 Roberts, Holver 549 Roberts, Robert F 586 Robertson, David 730 Robertson, David H 748 Robertson, John 282 Robinson, James W .500 Rockafellow, C. T 690 Rock wood. Dr. Richard C 660 Rodgers, Alexander 518 Rogers, Josiah H 722 Rooney, John 366 Rous, Francis M 484 Rowlands, John 454 Rowlands, Morris J 493 Rudd, Sheldon W 480 Rusch, August 395 SaniDSon, Samuel 397 Sargent, Edmund N 713 Sarrington. Henry 398 Sawyer, Henry • 497 Schneider, Carl 460 Schoff, Jeremiah M 831 .Schroder, Charles 584 Schultz, Christian 667 Scoon, Alfred F 303 .Scoon, Lyman S 303 Scott, Charles A 598 Scott, James 617-^ Scott, John 749 Scott, Kennedy 422 Seymour, Merton E 576 Seymour, Hon. Silas J 284 Shafer, Elijah L 753 Shanahan. Edward . . ........ 667 Shanahan, Henry M 727 Siefert, August 589 Simons, George T 516 Smith, Chester W 445 TABLE OF COXTEXTS—PART II. I'AOE Smith, John &h Smith, Lewis J 569 Smith, S.K 814 Snyder, WilHs E 526 Sperbeck, Martm G 475 Spiehr, Christopher 386 Stahl, Samuel 646 Stanton, George P 46.5 Staudenmayer, John G 638 Staudenmayer, John L 686 Steckelberg, Henry 740 Stevens, Wilham 466 Stevenson, David 659 Stoddard, Asa 536 Stoddard, Charles H 536 Stolte, Edward G 362 Stolte, William 368 Stone, James 704 Stone, James A 668 Streeter, John Franklin 651 Swartz, George L 428 Sweany, James A 508 Sylvester, William . 292 Taylor, Emmons 427 Taylor, Hon. James H 232 PAGE Teal, Joseph 829 Thiessen, Eugene C 373 Thompson, Charles R 293 Thompson, Mrs. Harriet 292 Thompson, Wallace 654 Tillotson, Joseph 489 Tompkins, Charles S 555 Trumble, Edward N 528 Trumbull, James W 664 Tucker, Milo G 476 Turner, Hon. Andrew J 306 Underdahl, Gunder O 275 Van Aernam, Alfred E 464 Van Aernam, Charles A 644 Van Alstine, G. B 690 Van Alstme, James F .^£L6, \'on Gonten, John (z76 Vroman, Jacob R 360 Vroman, John W 499 Waldref, Elmer M 660 Walreth, Hamilton 809 Walton, John 693 Walton, Ruf us S 693 I'AGK W'aterman, George W 233 Ward, William 685 Warren, Marcus A 241 Wentworth, Hon. Robert B. . . 226 White, John H .i.56 Willard, Hubbard S. 603 Willcox, Alfred 720 Williams, John L.... 407 Williams, Peter 671 Williams, Robert M 496 Williams, Thomas J 449 Williams, Dr. William E .584 Wilson, Ezra 629 Wilson, George Thomas •')29 Winnie, Menzo 311 Witt, Fritz 539 Wohlfert, Franz ,382 Wood, Ned C 735 Woodruff, Martin R 462 Worthman, James S 721 Wright, Joel B 706 Wright, Lemuel S 305 York, Oliver M ^ 699 Young, Hon. Ephraim W 2.52 Young, William Henry 744 SLSLSLSLSUiSUiJiSiSLSiSiJiJiSiSiJLSLSLSLJLSiSiSiJiSLSLSL^ I IRTR©DWeT0RY [ |HE greatest of English historians, Macaulay, and one of the most brilliant writers and profound thinkers of the present century, has said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." This is a fact which is becoming more and more recognized as our people advance in education and intelli- gence, and our own great Emerson, whose name stands at the head of American writers of his day, in carrying forward and emphasizing the great fact expressed by Macaulay, says: "Biog- raphy is the only true history." It was for the purpose of gathering and preserving this biographical matter in enduring form that the design for this volume originated. COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY. Regarding the fore part of this volume, "Part I," which is devoted to a "Com- pendium OF National Biography," but little need be said. The lives of the great men and celebrities of America are so inaccessible to the general public, and are so often in demand without being accessible, that it has been deemed wise to gather together a vast number of the biographies of our nation's greatest men and include them in this work as a fitting preface to the life histories and biographies of the local parties which follow and embrace the latter part of the volume. It is not given to all men to become great in a national sense, but the life history of those who do, makes up the history of our nation, and as such the history of their lives should be in every home and library as a means of reference and education. COMPENDIUM of LOCAL BIOGRAPHY. That portion of the volume devoted to a "Compendium of Local Biography," or "Part II," is of the greatest value, and its value will increase as the years go by. In this department of local biography is carried out the object which led to the com- pilation of this work, in gathering together and placing in enduring form, before it becomes too late, the life history of those who have helped to build up this region and who have taken part in the progress and development in business, political, social, and agricultural affairs. The rank that any county holds among its sister counties depends largely upon the achievements of its citizens. Some add to its rep- utation by efficient public .service, some by increasing its manufacturing or commercial INTRODUC TOR T. interests, and some by adJiiij^ to the ^'cn- ral wealth and prosperity in cultivating; and improving its l.iiids. To gi\e a f.iit.if.d account of the lives of old settlers and rep- resentative citizens of this region is to write its history in the truest sense. Each year, as it rolls its endless way along the mighty pathway of time, is thinning the ranks of those hardy pioneers and old settlers whose lives are so thoroughly id.-nti- fied with this region. Tne relentless hand of death, pursuing its remorseless and unceasing avocation, is cutting down, one by one, those whose life histories should be preserved as a part of the history of the growth and development of this region. The necessity for the collection and preservation of this matter, before it becomes too late, is the object of this work. Instead of going to musty records and taking therefrom dry statistical matter and official generalities, which can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone direct to the people, to the men and women who have by their enterprise and industry, brought about the development found in this region, and from their lips have written the story of their life struggles. No more interesting or instructive mat- ter could be presented to an intelligent public. In this department, devoted to Loc.-\l Biography, will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an inflLience widely e.xtended. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells, also, of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy, — "they have done what they could." It tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's call went forth valiantly "to do or die," for the cause and principles they held so dear. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treas- ure, from the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into pub- lic records, and which would otherwise be inaccessible and lost forever. Great care has been taken in the compilation of this work, and every opportunity for revision possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers feci warranted in saying that they give to their readers a work with very few, if any, errors of consequence. In closing this brief introductory the memorable words of Carlyle fittingly e.xpress the hope, aim, and desire of the publishers in the compilation of this volume: "Let the record be made of the men and things of to-day, lest they pass out of memory to-morrow and are lost Then perpetuate them, not upon wood or stone that crum- bles to dust, but chronicled in picture and in words that endure forever." l^^i^^i^^;^, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Celebrated Americans ^^^ '^i^'^^'^z^'^g' i\ G |EORGE WASHINGTON, 'g, ^ m ■ f the first president of the Unit- I Li ^*^^ f ed States, called the "Father -»> i»)\ii \)t»n»n^ of his Country," was one of ^^'^^yf^ the most celebrated characters VfefSy in history. He was born Feb- * ruary 22, 1732, in Washing- ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, and March 6, 1730, he -married Mary Ball. Of si.x children by his second marriage, George was the eldest. Little is known of the early years of Washington, beyond the fact that the house in which he was born was burned during his early childhood, and that his father there- upon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford county, on the north bank of the Rappahan- nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest childhood George developed a noble charac- ter. His education was somewhat defective, being confined to the elementary branches taught him by his mother and at a neighbor- ing school. On leaving school he resided some time at Mount Vernon with his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as bis guar» dian. George's inclinations were for a sea- faring career, and a midshipman's warrant was procured for him; but through the oppo- sition of his mother the project was aban- doned, and at the age of si.xteen he was appointed surveyor to the immense estates of the eccentric Lord Fairfa.x. Three years were passed by Washington in a rough fron- tier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 175 1, when the Virginia militia were put under training with a view to active service against France, Washington, though only nineteen years of age, was appointed adjutant, with the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence Washington died, leaving his large property to an infant daughter. In his will George was named one of the executors and as an eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to that estate. In 1753 George was commis- sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia militia, and performed important work at the outbreak of the French and Indian war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of that war we find him commander-in-chief of u COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation of Indian hostilities on the frontier havjng followed the expulsion of the French from the Ohio, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which he had been elected a member. January 17, 1759, Washington married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young and beautiful widow of great wealth, and devoted himself for the ensuing hf teen years to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- rupted only by the annual attendance in winter upon the colonial legislature at Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun- try to enter upon that other arena in which his fame was to become world-wide. The war for independence called Washington into service again, and he was made com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and ^^■as the most gallant and conspicuous figure in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng- land acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them jointly, as separate sovereignties. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his officers in most affection- ate and patriotic terms, and went to An- napolis, Maryland, where the congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon. It was in 1789 that W'ashington was called to the chief magistracy of the na- tion. The inauguration took place April 30, in the presence of an immense multi- tude which had assembled to witness the new and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de- tails of his civil administration Washington proved himself fully equal to the requirements of his position. In 1792, at the second presi- dential election, Washington was desirous to retire; but he yielded to the general wish of the country, and was again chosen presi- dent. At the third election, in 1796, he was again most urgently entreated to con- sent to remain in the executive chair. This he positively refused, and after March 4, 1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon for peace, quiet, and repose. Of the call again made on this illustrious chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver- non and take command of all the United States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen- eral, when war was threatened with France in 179S, nothing need here be stated, ex- cept to note the fact as an unmistakable testimonial of the high regard in which he was still held by his countrymen of all shades of political opinion. He patriotic- ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop to all action under it. He again retired to Mount Vernon, where he died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were depos- ited in a family vault on the banks of the Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still lie entombed. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent American statesman and scientist, was born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren- ticed to his brother James to learn the print- er's trade to prevent his running away and going to sea, and also because of the numer- ous family his parents had to support (there being seventeen children, Benjamin being the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and soon developed a taste for writing, and pre- pared a number of articles and had them published in the paper without his brother's knowledge, and when the authorship be- came known it resulted in difficulty for tiie COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. young apprentice, although his articles had been received with favor by the public. James was afterwards thrown into prison for political reasons, and young Benjamin con- ducted the paper alone during the time. In 1823, however, he determined to endure his bonds no longer, and ran away, going to Philadelphia, where he arrived with only three pence as his store of wealth. With these he purchased three rolls, and ate them as he walked along the streets. He soon found employment as a journeyman printer. Two years later he was sent to England by the governor of Pennsylvania, and was promised the public printing, but did not get it. On his return to Philadelphia he estab- lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and soon found himself a person of great popu- larity in the province, his ability as a writer, philosopher, and politician having reached the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li- brary in 1842, and two years later the American Philosophical Society and the University of Pennsylvania. He was made Fellow of the Royal Society in London in 1775. His world-famous investigations in electricity and lightning began in 1746. He became postmaster-general of the colonies in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial postal system. He advocated the rights of the colonies at all times, and procured the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was elected to the Continental congress of 1775, and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, being one of the commit- tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep- resented the new nation in the courts of Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple dignity and homely wisdom won him the admiration of the court and the favor of the people. He was governor of Pennsylvania lour years; was also a member of the con- vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution of the United States. His writings upon political topics, anti- slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him as one of the greatest statesmen of his time, while his "Autobiography" and "Poor Richard's Almanac" give him precedence in the literary field. In early life he was an avowed skeptic in religious matters, but later in life his utterances on this subject were less extreme, though he never ex- pressed approval of any sect or creed. He died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790. DANIEL WEBSTER.— Of world wide reputation for statesmanship, diplo- macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more prominent figure in the history of our coun- try in the interval between 181 5 and 1861, than Daniel Webster. He was born at Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, and was the second son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster. He enjoyed but limited educational advan- tages in childhood, but spent a few months in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He completed his preparation for college in the family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen, and entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1797. He supported himself most of the time during these years by teaching school and graduated in 1801, having the credit of being the foremost scholar of his class. He entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1S02 he con- tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine, where he was principal of the academy and copyist in the office of the register of deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore, at Boston, he completed his studies in 1804-5, ^^'^ w^s admitted to the bar in the latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports- mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes- 20 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. sion. He became known as a federalist but did not court political honors; but, at- tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos- ing the war with England, he was elected to congress in 1812. During the special session of May, 18 13, he was appointed on the committee on foreign affairs and made his maiden speech June 10, 181 3. Through- out this session (as afterwards) he showed his mastery of the great economic questions of the day. He was re-elected in 18 14. In 1 8 16 he removed to Boston and for seven years devoted himself to his profession, earning by his arguments in the celebrated "Dartmouth College Case" rank among the most distinguished jurists of the country. In 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member of the state convention of Massachusetts, to revise the constitution. The same year he delivered the famous discourse on the " Pil- grim fathers," which laid the foundation for his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi- nation for United States senator, in 1822 he was elected to the lower house of congress and was re-elected in 1824 and 1826, but in 1827 was transferred to the senate. He retained his seat in the latter chamber until 1841. During this time his voice was ever lifted in defence of the national life and honor and although politically opposed to him he gave his support to the administra- tion of President Jackson in the latter's con- test with nullification. Through all these years he was ever found upon the side of right and justice and his speeches upon all the great questions of the day have be- come household words in almost every family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed secretary of state by President Harrison and was continued in the same office by President Tyler. While an incumbent of this office he showed consummate ability as a diplomat in the negotiation of the "Ash- burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which settled many points of dispute between the United States and England. In May, 1843, he resigned his post and resumed his pro- fession, and in December, 1845, took his place again in the senate. He contributed in an unofficial way to the solution of the Oregon question with Great Britain.i«'j847, He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv- ing the nomination for the presidency. He became secretary of state under President Fillmore in 1850 and in dealing with all the complicated questions of the day showed a wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy. Being hurt in an accident he retired to his home at Marshfield, where he died Octo- ber 24, 1852. HORACE GREELEY. —As journalist, author, statesman and political leader, there is none more widely known than the man whose name heads this article. He was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb- ruary 3, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm. At an early age he evinced a remarkable intelligence and love of learning, and at the age of ten had read every book he could borrow for miles around. About 182 i the family removed to Westhaven, Vermont, and for some years young Greeley assisted in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered the office of a weekly newspaper at East Poultney, Vermont, where he remained about four years. On the discontinuance of this paper he followed his father's family to Erie county, Pennsylvania, whither they had moved, and for a time worked at the printer's trade in that neigh- borhood. In 1 83 1 Horace went to New York City, and for a time found employ- ment as journeyman printer. January, 1833, in partnership with Francis Story, he published the Morning Post, the first penny COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 21 paper ever printed. This proved a failure and was discontinued after three weeks. The business of job printing was carried on, however, until the death of Mr. Story in July following. In company with Jonas Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley commenced the publication of the New Yor-licr, a weekly paper of a high character. For financial reasons, at the same time, Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and, in ICS38, took editorial charge of the Jcjfcr- sonian, a Whig paper published at Albany. In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet, ha devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a campaign paper in the interests of the Whig party. In the fall of 1841 the latter paper was consolidated with the Nci<.< Yorker, un- der the name of the Tribune, the first num- ber of which was issued April 10, 184 1. At the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained until the day of his death. In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to the national house of representatives to fill a vacancy, and was a member of that body until March 4, 1S49. In 1851 he went to Europe and served as a juror at the World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon- don. In 1855, he made a second visit to the old world. In 1859 he crossed the plains and received a public reception at San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a member of the Republican national con- vention, at Chicago in i860, and assisted in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President. The same year he was a presi- dential elector for the state of New York, and a delegate to the Loyalist convention at Philadelphia. At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr. Greeley became a strong advocate of uni- versal amnesty and complete pacification, and in pursuance of this consented to be- come one of the bondsmen for Jefiferson Davis, who was imprisoned for treason. In 1867 he was a delegate to the New York state convention for the revision of the constitution. In 1870 he was defeated for congress in the Sixth New York district. At the Liberal convention, which met in Cincinnati, in May, 1872, on the fifth ballot Horace Greeley was nominated for presi- dent and July following was nominated for the same office by the Democratic conven- tion at Baltimore. He was defeated by a large majority. The large amount of work done by him during the campaign, together with the loss of his wife about the same time, undermined his strong constitution, and he was seized with inflammation of the brain, and died November 29, 1872. In addition to his journalistic work, Mr. Greeley was the author of several meritori- ous works, among which were: "Hints toward reform," "Glances at Europe," " History of the struggle for slavery exten sion," "Overland journey to San Francis- co," "The American conflict," and " Rec-- ollections of a busy life." HENRY CLAY.— In writing of this em- inent American, Horace Greeley once said: "He was a matchless party chief, an admirable orator, a skillful legislator, wield- ing unequaled influence, not only over his friends, but even over those of his political antagonists who were subjected to the magic of his conversation and manners. " A law- yer, legislator, orator, and statesman, few men in history have wielded greater influ- ence, or occupied so prominent a place in the hearts of the generation in which they lived. Henry Clay was born near Richmond, in Hanover county, Virginia, April 12, 1777, the son of a poor Baptist preacher who died when Henry was but five years 22 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. old. The mother married again about ten years later and removed to Kentucky leav- ing Henry a clerk in a store at Richmond. Soon afterward Henry Clay secured a posi- tion as copyist in the office of the clerk of the high court of chancery, and four years later entered the law office of Robert Brooke, then attorney general and later governor of his native state. In 1797 Henry Clay was licensed as a lawyer and followed his mother to Kentucky, opening an office at Lexington and soon built up a profitable practice. Soon afterward Kentucky, in separating from Virginia, called a state convention for the purpose of framing a constitution, and Clay at that time took a prominent part, publicly urging the adoption of a clause providing for the abolition of slavery, but in this he was overruled, as he was fifty years later, vhen in the height of his fame he again ad- vised the same course when the state con- stitution was revised in 1850. Young Clay took a very active and conspicuous part in the presidential campaign in 1 800, favoring the election of Jefferson; and in 1803 was chosen to represent Fayette county in the state 'egislature. In 1806 General John Adair, then United States senator from Kentucky, resigned and Henry Clay was elected to fill the vacancy by the legislature and served through one session in which he at once assumed a prominent place. In 1807 he was again a representative in the legislature and was elected speaker of the house. At this time originated his trouble with Humphrey Marshall. Clay proposed that each member clothe himself and family wholly in American fabrics, which Marshall characterized as the " language of a dema- gogue." This led to a duel in which both parties were slightly injured. In 1809 Henry Clay was again elected to fill a va- cancy in the United States senate, and two j'ears later elected representative in tne low- er house of congress, being chosen speaker of the house. About this time war was de- clared against Great Britain, and Clay took a prominent public place during this strug- gle and was later one of the commissioners sent to Europe by President Madison to ne- gotiate peace, returning in September, 181 5, having been re-elected speaker of the house during his absence, and was re-elect- ed unanimously. He was afterward re- elected to congress and then became secre- tary of state under John Quincy Adams. In 1 83 1 he was again elected senator from Kentucky and remained in the senate most of the time until his death. Henry Clay was three times a candidate for the presidency, and once very nearly elected. He was the unanimous choice of the Whig party in 1844 for the presidency, and a great effort was made to elect him but without success, his opponent, James K. Polk, carrying both Pennsylvania and New York by a very slender margin, while either of them alone would have elected Clay. Henry Clay died at Washington June 29, 1852. TAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was one ears he had a contract with the Western Union and the Gold Stock companies, whereby he received a large salary, besides a special price for all telegraphic improve- ments he could suggest. Later, as the head of the Edison General Electric com- pany, with its numerous subordinate organ- izations and connections all over the civil- ized world, he became several times a millionaire. Mr. Edison invented the pho- nograph and kinetograph which bear his name, the carbon telephone, the tasimeter, and the duplex and quadruplex systems of telegraphy. JAMES LONGSTREET, one of the most conspicuous of the Confederate generals during the Civil war, was born in 1820, in South Carolina, but was early taken by his parents to Alabama where he grew to man- hood and received his early education. He graduated at the United States military academy in 1842, entering the army as lieutenant and spent a few years in the fron- tier service. When the Mexican war broke out he was called to the front and partici- pated in all the principal battles of that war up to the storming of Chapultepec, where he received severe wounds. For gallant conduct at Contreras, Cherubusco, and Mo- lino del Rey he received the brevets of cap- tain and major. After the close of the Mexican war Longstreet served as adjutant and captain on frontier service in Texas un- til 1858 when he was transferred -to the staff as paymaster with rank of major. In June, 1 86 1, he resigned to join the Confederacy and immediately went to the front, com- manding a brigade at Bull Run the follow- ing month. Promoted to be major-general in 1862 he thereafter bore a conspicuous COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 57 part and rendered valuable service to the Confederate cause. He participated in many of the most severe battles of the Civil war including Bull Run (first and second), Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Fraziers Farm, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Frederickburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, the Wilderness, Petersburg and most of the fighting about Richmond. When the war closed General Long- street accepted the result, renewed his alle- giance to the government, and thereafter labored earnestly to obliterate all traces of war and promote an era of good feeling be- tween all sections of the country. He took up his residence in New Orleans, and took an active interest and prominent part in public affairs, served as surveyor of that port for several years; was commissioner of engineers for Louisiana, served four years as school commissioner, etc. In 1875 he was appointed supervisor of internal revenue and settled in Georgia. After that time he served four years as United States minister to Turkey, and also for a number of years was United States marshal of Georgia, be- sides having held other important official positions. JOHN RUTLEDGE, the second chief- justice of the United States, was born at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1739. He was a son of John Rutledge, who had left Ireland for America about five years prior to the birth of our subject, and a brother of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Rut- ledge received his legal edLication at the Temple, London, after which he returned to Charleston and soon won distinction at the bar. He was elected to the old Colonial congress in 1765 to protest against the " Stamp Act," and was a member of the South Carolina convention of 1774, and of the Continental congress of that and the succeeding year. In 1776 he was chairman of the committee that draughted the con- stitution of his state, and was president of the congress of that state. He was not pleased with the state constitution, how- ever, and resigned. In 1779 he was again chosen governor of the state, and granted extraordinary powers, and he at once took the field to repel the British. He joined the army of General Gates in 1782, and the same year was elected to congress. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention which framed our present constitu- tion. In 1 7S9 he was appointed an associate justice of the first supreme court of the United States. He resigned to accept the position of chief- justice of his own state. Upon the resignation of Judge Jay^ he was appointed chief-justice of the United States in 1795. The appointment was never con- firmed, for, after presiding at one session, his mind became deranged, and he was suc- ceeded by Judge Ellsworth. He died at Charleston, July 23, 1800. RALPH WALDO EMERSON was one of the most noted literary men of his time. He was born in Boston, Massachu- setts, May 25, 1803. He had a minister for an ancestor, either on the paternal or ma- ternal side, in every generation for eight generations back. His father, Rev. Will- iam Emerson, was a native of Concord, Massachusetts, born May 6, 1769, graduated at Harvard, in 1789, became a Unitarian minister; was a fine writer and one of the best orators of his day; died in 181 1. Ralph Waldo Emerson was fitted for college at the public schools of Boston, and graduated at Harvard College in 1821, win- ning about this time several prizes for es- 58 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. says. For five years he taught school in Boston; in 1S26 was licensed to preach, and in 1829 was ordained as a colleague to Rev. Henry Ware of the Second Unitarian church in Boston. In 1832 he resigned, rqaking the announcement in a sermon of his un- ;villingness longer to administer the rite of vhe Lord's Supper, after which he spent about a year in Europe. Upon his return he began his career as a lecturer before the Boston Mechanics Institute, his subject be- ing "Water." His early lectures on " Italy" and "Relation of Man to the Globe " also attracted considerable attention; as did also his biographical lectures on Michael Angelo, Milton, Luther, George Fox, and Edmund Burke. After that time he gave many courses of lectures in Boston and became one of the best known lecturers in America. But very few men have rendered such con- tinued service in this field. He lectured for forty successive seasons before the Salem, Massachusetts, Lyceum and also made re- peated lecturing tours in this country and in England. In 1835 Mr. Emerson took up his residence at Concord, Massachusetts, where he continued to make his home until his death which occurred April 27, 1SS2. Mr. Emerson's literary work covered a wide scope. He wrote and published many works, essays and poems, which rank high among the works of American literary men. A few of the many which he produced are the following: "Nature;" "The Method of Nature;" " Man Thinking;" "The Dial;" "Essays;" "Poems;" "English Traits;" "The Conduct of Life;" "May-Day and other Poems " and " Society and Solitude;" besides many others. He was a prominent member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, of the American Philosophical Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society and other kindred associations. ALEXANDER T. STEWART, one of the famous merchant princes of New York, was born near the city of Belfast, Ire- land, in 1803, and before he was eight years of age was left an orphan without any near relatives, save an aged grandfather. The grandfather being a pious Methodist wanted to make a minister of young Stewart, and accordingly put him in a school with that end in view and he graduated at Trinity Col- lege, in Dublin. When scarcely twenty years of age he came to New York. His first employment was that of a teacher, but accident soon made him a merchant. En- tering into business relations with an ex- perienced man of his acquaintance he soon found himself with the rent of a store on his hands and alone in a new enterprise. Mr. Stewart's business grew rapidly in all directions, but its founder had executive ability sufficient for any and all emergencies, and in time his house became one of the greatest mercantile establishments of mod- ern times, and the name of Stewart famous. Mr. Stewart's death occurred April 10, 1876. JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. — In speaking of this noted American nov- elist, William CuJlen Bryant said: " He wrote for mankind at large, hence it is that he has earned a fame wider than any Amer- ican author of modern times. The crea- tions of his genius shall survive through centuries to come, and only perish with our language." Another eminent writer (Pres- cott) said of Cooper: " In his productions every American must take an honest pride; for surely no one has succeeded like Cooper in the portraiture of American character, or has given such glowing and eminently truth- ful pictures of American scenery." James Fenimore Cooper was born Sep- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 59 tember 15, 1789, at Burlington, New Jer- sey, and was a son of Judge William Cooper. About a year after the birth of our subject the family removed to Otsego county, New York, and founded the town called " Coop- erstown." James Fenimore Cooper spent his childhood there and in 1802 entered Yale College, and four years later became a midshipma'n in the United States navy. In 181 1 he was married, quit the seafaring life, and began devoting more or less time to lit- erary pursuits. His first work was "Pre- caution," a novel published in 18 19, and three years later he produced "The Spy, a Tale of Neutral Ground," which met with p;reat favor and was a universal success. This was followed by many other works, among which may be mentioned the follow- ing: "The Pioneers," "The Pilot," "Last of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," "The Red Rover," "The Manikins," "Home- ward Bound," " Home as Found," "History of the United States Navy," "The Path- finder," "Wing and Wing," "Afloat and Ashore," "The Chain- Bearer, " "Oak- Openings," etc. J. Fenimore Cooper died at Cooperstown, New York, September 14, 1851. M- ARSHALL FIELD, one of the mer- chant princes of America, ranks among the most successful business men of the cen- tury. He was born in 1835 ^t Conway, Massachusetts. He spent his early life on a farm and secured a fair education in the common schools, supplementing this with a course at the Conway Academy. His natural bent ran in the channels of commer- cial life, and at the age of seventeen he was given a position in a store at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Field remained there four years and removed to Chicago in 1856. He began his career in Chicago as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of Cooley, Wadsworth & Company, which later be- came Cooley, Farwell & Company, and still later John V. Farwell & Company. He remained with them four years and exhibit- ed marked ability, in recognition of which he was given a partnership. In 1865 Mr. Field and L. Z. Leiter, who was also a member of the firm, withdrew and formed the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, the third partner being Potter Palmer, and they continued in business until 1867, when Mr. Palmer retired and the firm became Field, Leiter & Company. They ran under the latter name until 1881, when Mr. Leiter re- tired and the house has since continued un- der the name of Marshall Field & Company. The phenomenal success accredited to the house is largely due to the marked ability of Mr. Field, the house had become one of the foremost in the west, with an annual sale of $8,000,000 in 1S70. The total loss of the firm during the Chicago fire was $3,500,000 of which $2,500,000 was re- covered through the insurance companies. It rapidly recovered from the effects of this and to-day the annual sales amount to over $40,000,000. Mr. Field's real estate hold- ings amounted to $[ 0,000, 000. He was one of the heaviest subscribers to the Bap- tist University fund although he is a Presby- terian, and gave $ 1,000,000 for the endow- ment of the Field Columbian Museum — one of the greatest institutions of the kind in the world. EDGAR WILSON NYE, who won an im- mense popularity under the pen name of " Bill Nye," was one of the most eccen- tric humorists of his day. He was born Au- gust 25, 1850, at Shirley, Piscataqua coun- ty, Maine, "at a very early age " as he ex- presses it. He took an academic course in 60 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. River Falls, Wisconsin, from whence, after his graduation, he removed to Wyoming Territory. He studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1S76. He began when quite young to contribute humorous sketches to the newspapers, became connected with various western journals and achieved a brilliant success as a humorist. Mr. Nye settled later in New York City where he devoted his time to writing funny articles for the big newspaper syndicates. He wrote for publication in book form the following : "Bill Nye and the Boomerang," "The Forty Liars," "Baled Hay," "Bill Nye's Blossom Rock," "Remarks," etc. His death occurred February 21, 1896, at Ashe- ville. North Carolina. THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE, one of the most celebrated American preach- ers, was born January 7, 1832, and was the youngest of tv.'elve children. He made his preliminary studies at the grammar school in New Bnmswick, New Jersey. At the age of eighteen he joined the church and entered the University of the City of New York, and graduated in May, 1853. The exercises were held in Niblo's Garden and his speech aroused the audience to a high pitch of en- thusiasm. At the close of his college duties he imagined himself interested in the law and for three years studied law. Dr. Tal- mage then perceived his mistake and pre- pared himself for the ministry at the Reformed Dutch Church Theological Semi- nary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. Just after his ordination the young minister re- ceived two calls, one from Piermont, New York, and the other from Belleville, New Jersey. Dr. Talmage accepted the latter and for three years filled that charge, when he was called to Syracuse, New York. Here it was that his sermons first drew large crowds of people to his church, and from thence dates his popularity. Afterward he became the pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch church, of Philadelphia, remaining seven jears, during which period he first entered upon the lecture platform and laid the foundation for his future reputation. At the end of this time he received three calls, one from Chicago, one from San Francisco, and one from the Central Presbyterian church of Brooklyn, which latter at that time consisted of only nineteen members with a congregation of about thirty-five. This church offered him a salary of seven thousand dollars and he accepted the call. He soon induced the trustees to sell the old church and build a new one. They did so and erected the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but it burned down shortly after it was finished. By prompt sympathy and general liberality a new church was built and formally opened in February, 1874. It contained seats for four thousand, si.x hundred and fifty, but if necessary seven thousand could be accom- modated. In October, 1878, his salary was raised from seven thousand dollars totwelve thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 1889 the second tabernacle was destroyed by fire. A third tabernacle was built and it was for- mally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1891. JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, conceded as being one of the greatest band leaders in the world, won his fame while leader of the United States Marine Band at Washing- ton, District of Columbia. He was not originally a band player but was a violinist, and at the age of seventeen he was conduc- tor of an opera company, a profession which he followed for several years, until he was offered the leadership of the Marine Band at Washington. The proposition was re- pugnant to him at first but he accepted the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 61 offer and then ensued ten jears of brilliant success with that organization. When he first took the Marine Band he began to gather the national airs of all the nations that have representatives in Washington, and compiled a comprehensive volume in- cluding nearly all the national songs of the different nations. He composed a number of marches, waltzes and two-steps, promi- nent among which are the "Washington Post," "Directorate," "King Cotton," "High School Cadets," "Belle of Chica- go," "Liberty Bell March," "Manhattan Beach," "On Parade March," " Thunderer March," "Gladiator March," " El Capitan March," etc. He became a very extensive composer of this class of music. JOHN QUINCY AD.\MS, sixth president of the United States, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, July ii, 1767, the son of John Adams. At the age of eleven he was sent to school at Paris, and two years later to Leyden, where he entered that great university. He returned to the United States in 17S5, and graduated from Harvard in 17S8. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1791. His practice brought no income the first two years, but he won distinction in literary fields, and was appointed minister to The Hague in 1794. He married in 1797, and ■went as minister to Berlin the same year, serving until 1801, when Jefferson became president. He was elected to the senate in I S03 by the Federalists, but was condemned by that party for advocating the Embargo Act and other Anti-Federalist measures. He ■was appointed as professor of rhetoric at Harvard in 1805, and in 1809 was sent as minister to Russia. He assisted in negotiat- ing the treaty of peace with England in 3814, and became minister to that power the next year. He served during Monroe's administration two terms as secretary of state, during which time party lines were obliterated, and in 1824 four candidates for president appeared, all of whom were iden- tified to some extent with the new " Demo- cratic" party. Mr. Adams received 84 elec- toral votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41, and Clay 37. As no candidate had a majority of all votes, the election went to the house of representatives, which elected Mr. Adams. As Clay had thrown his influence to Mr. Adams, Clay became secretary of state, and this caused bitter feeling on the part of the Jackson Democrats, who were joined by Mr. Crawford and his following, and op- posed every measur-e of the administration. In the election of 1828 Jackson was elected over Mr. Adams by a great majorit}'. Mr. Adams entered the lower house of congress in 1830, elected from the district in which he was born and continued to rep- resent it for seventeen years. He was known as " the old man eloquent," and his work in congress was independent of party. He opposed slavery extension and insisted upon presenting to congress, one at a time, the hundreds of petitions against the slave power. One of these petitions, presented in 1842, was signed by forty-five citizens of Massachusetts, and prayed congress for a peaceful dissolution of the Union. His enemies seized upon this as an opportunity to crush their powerful foe, and in a caucus meeting determined upon his expulsion from congress. Finding they would not be able to command enough votes for this, they de- cided upon a course that would bring equal disgrace. They formulated a resolution to the effect that while he merited expulsion, the house would, in great mercy, substitute its severest censure. When it was read in the house the old man, then in his seventy-fifth 62 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. year, arose and demanded that the first para- graph of the Declaration of Independence be read as his defense. It embraced the famous sentence, "that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to those ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, etc., etc." After eleven days of hard fight- ing his opponents were defeated. On Febru- ary 2 1, 1S48, he rose to address the speaker on the Oregon question, when he suddenly fell from a stroke of paralysis. He died soon after in the rotunda of the capitol, where he had been conveyed by his col- leagues. SUSAN B. ANTHONY was one of the most famous women of America. She was born at South Adams, Massachusetts, February 15, 1820, the daughter of a Quaker. She received a good education and became a school teacher, following that profession for fifteen years in New York. Beginning with about 1852 she became the active leader of the woman's rights move- ment and won a wide reputation for her 2eal and ability. She also distinguished herself for her zeal and eloquence in the temperance and anti-slavery causes, and became a conspicuous figure during the war. After the close of the war she gave most of her labors to the cause of woman's suffrage. PHILIP D. ARMOUR, one of the most conspicuous figures in the mercantile history of America, was born May 16, 1S32, on a farm at Stockbridge, Madison county. New York, and received his early education in the common schools of that county. He was apprenticed to a farmer and worked faithfully and well, being very ambitious and desiring to start out for himself. At the age of twenty he secured a release from his indentures and set out overland for the gold fields of California. After a great deal of hard work he accumulated a little money and then cam.e east and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went into the grain receiving and warehouse busi- ness and was fairly successful, and later on he formed a partnership with John Flankin- ton in the pork packing line, the style of the firm being Plankinton & Armour. Mr. Ar- mour made his first great "deal" in selling pork "short " on the New York market in the anticipation of the fall of the Confed- eracy, and Mr. Armour is said to have made through this deal a million dollars. He then established packing houses in Chicago and Kansas City, and in 1875 he removed to Chicago. He increased his business by add- ing to it the shipment of dressed beef to -the European markets, and many other lines of trade and manufacturing, and it rapidly assumed vast proportions, employing an army of men in different lines of the busi- ness. Mr. Armour successfully conducted a great many speculative deals in pork and grain of immense.proportions and also erected many large warehouses for the storage of grain. He became one of the representative business men of Chicago, where he became closely identified with all enterprises of a public nature, but his fame as a great busi- ness man extended to all parts of the world. He founded the "Armour Institute " at Chi- cago and also contributed largely to benevo- lent and charitable institutions. ROBERT FULTON.— Although Fulton is best known as the inventor of the first successful steamboat, yet his claims to distinction do not rest alone upon that, for he was an inventor along other lines, a painter and an author. He was born at Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pennsyl- coMPExniCM ()/■' niocRAPiir. 65 vania, in 1765, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. At the age of seventeen he removed to Phila- delphia, and there and in New York en- gaged in miniature painting with success both from a pecuniary and artistic point of view. With the results of his labors he pur- chased a farm for the support of his mother. He went to London and studied under the great painter, Benjamin West, and all through life retained his fondness for art and gave evidence of much ability in that line. While in England he was brought in contact- with the Duke of Bridgewater, the father of the English canal system; Lord Stanhope, an eminent mechanician, and James Watt, the inventor of the steam en- gine. Their influence turned his mind to its true field of labor, that of mechanical in- vention. Machines for flax spinning, marble sawing, rope making, and for remov- ing earth from excavations, are among his earliest ventures. His "Treatise on the Improvement of Canal Navigation, " issued in 1796, and a series of essays on canals were soon followed by an English patent for canal improvements. In 1797 he went to Paris, where he resided until 1S06, and there invented a submarine torpedo boat for maritime defense, but which was rejected by the governments of France, England and the United States. In 1803 he offered to con- struct for the Emperor Napoleon a steam- boat that would assist in carrying out the plan of invading Great Britain then medi- tated by that great captain. In pursuance he constructed his first steamboat on the Seine, but it did not prove a full success and the idea was abandoned by the French government. By the aid of Livingston, then United States minister to France, Fulton purchased, in 1806, an engine which he brought to this country. After studying the defects of his own and other attempts in this line he built and launched in 1807 the Clermont, the first successful steamboat. This craft only attained a speed of five miles an hour while going up North river. His first patent not fully covering his in- vention, Fulton was engaged in many law suits for infringement. He constructed many steamboats, ferryboats, etc., among these being the United States steamer " Fulton the First," built in 18 14, the first war steamer ever built. This craft never attained any great speed owing to some de- fects in construction and accidentally blew up in 1829. Fulton died in New York, Feb- ruary 21, 1S15. SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, sixth chief-justice of the United States, and one of the most eminent of American jurists, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, Jan- uary 13, 1 80S. At the age of nine he was left in poverty by the death of his father, but means were found to educate him. He was sent to his uncle, a bishop, who con- ducted an academy near Columbus, Ohio, and here young Chase worked on the farm and attended school. At the age of fifteen he returned to his native state and entered Dartmouth College, from which he gradu- ated in 1 826. He then went to Washington, and engaged in teaching school, and study- ing law under the instruction of William Wirt. He was licensed to practice in 1829, and went to Cincinnati, where he had a hard struggle for several years following. He had in the meantime prepared notes on the statutes of Ohio, which, when published, brought him into prominence locally. He was soon after appointed solicitor of the United States Bank. In 1837 he appeared as counsel for a fugitive slave woman, Ma- tilda, and sought by all the powers of his learning and eloquence to prevent her owner '66 COMPENDIUM OF lUOGRAPIir. from reclaiming her. He acted in many other cases, and devolved the trite expres- sion, "Slavery is sectional, freedom is na- tional." He was employed to defend Van if andt before the supreme court of the United States in 1846, which was one of the most noted cases connected with the great strug- gle against slavery. By this time Mr. Chase had become the recognized leader of that element known as " free-soilers." He was elected to the United States senate in 1849, and was chosen governor of Ohio in 1855 and re-elected in 1857. He was chosen to the United States senate from Ohio in 1861, but was made secretary of the treasury by Lincoln and accepted. He inaugurated a financial system to replenish the exhausted treasury and meet the demands of the great- est war in history and at the same time to revive the industries of the country. One of the measures which afterward called for his judicial attention was the issuance of currency notes which were made a legal tender in payment of debts. When this question came before him as chief-justice of the United States he reversed his former action and declared the measure unconstitu- tional. The national banking system, by which all notes issued were to be based on funded government bonds of equal or greater amounts, had its direct origin with Mr. Chase. Mr. Chase resigned the treasury port- folio in 1864, and was appointed the same year as chief-justice of the United States supreme court. The great questions that came up before him at this crisis in the life of the nation were no less than those which confronted the first chief-justice at the for- mation of our government. Reconstruction, private, state and national interests, the constitutionality of the acts of congress passed in times of great excitement, the -construction and interpretation to be placed upon the several amendments to the national constitution, — these were among the vital questions requiring prompt decision. He received a paralytic stroke in 1870, which impaired his health, though his mental powers were not affected. He continued to preside at the opening terms for two years iollowing and died Ma}' 7, 1873. HARRIET ELIZABETH BEECHER STOWE, a celebrated American writ- er, was born June 14, 1812, at Litchfield, Connecticut. She was a daughter of Lyman Beecher and a sister of Henry Ward Beecher, two noted divines; was carefully educated, afid taught school for several years at Hart- ford, Connecticut. In 1832 Miss Beecher married Professor Stowe, then of Lane Semi- nary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards at Bowdoin College and Andover Seminary. Mrs. Stowe published in 1849 "The May- flower, or sketches of the descendants of the Pilgrims," and in 1851 commenced in the " National Era "of Washington, a serial story which was published separately in 1852 under the title of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." This book attained almost unparalleled success both at home and abroad, and within ten years it had been translated in alinost every lan- guage of the civilized world. Mrs. Stowe pub- lished in 1853 a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin" in which the data that she used was published and its truthfulness was corroborated. In 1853 she accompanied her husband and brother to Europe, and on her return pub- lished "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands" in 1854. Mrs. Stowe was for some time one of the editors of the ' ' Atlantic Monthly " and the " Hearth and Home," for which she had written a number of articles. Among these, also published separately, are " Dred, a tale of the Great Dismal Swamp" (later published under the title of "Nina COMrEXDlL'M OF BJOGRAPIIi' G7 Gordon"); "The Minister's Wooing;" "The Pearl of Orr's Island;" "Agnes of Sorrento;" "Oldtovvn Folks;" " My Wife and I;" "Bible Heroines," and "A Dog's Mission." Mrs. Stowe's death occurred July i, 1896, at Hartford, Connecticut. THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, bet- ter known as "Stonewall" Jackson, was one of the most noted of the Confeder- ate generals of the Civil war. He was a S(jldier by nature, an incomparable lieuten- ant, sure to execute any operation entrusted to him with marvellous precision, judgment and courage, and all his individual cam- paigns and combats bore the stamp of a masterly capacity for war. He was born January 21, 1824, at Clarksburg, Harrison county, West Virginia. He was early in life imbued with the desire to be a soldier and it is said walked from the mountains of Virginia to W^ashington, secured the aid of his congressman, and was appointed cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point from which he was graduated in 1846. 'Attached to the army as brevet sec- ond lieutenant of the First Artillery, his first service was as a subaltern with Magruder's battery of light artillery in the Mexican war. He participated at the reduction of Vera Cruz, and was noticed for gallantry in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Molina del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of the city of Alexico, receiving the brevets of captain for conduct at Contreras and Cher- ubusco and of major at Chapultepec. In the meantime he had been advanced by regular promotion to be first lieutenant in 1847. In 1852, the war having closed, he resigned and became professor of natural and experimental philosophy and artillery instructor at the Virginia State Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia, where he remained until Virginia declared for seces- sion, he becoming chiefly noted for intense religious sentiment coupled with personal eccentricities. Upon the breaking out of the war he was made colonel and placed in command of a force sent to sieze Harper's Ferry, which he accomplished May 3, 1861. Relieved by General J. E. Johnston, May 23, he took command of the brigade of Valley Virginians, whom he moulded into that brave corps, baptized at the first Manassas, and ever after famous as the " Stonewall Brigade." After this "Stone- wall " Jackson was made a major-general, in 1 861, and participated until his death in all the famous campaigns about Richmond and in Virginia, and was a conspicuous fig- ure in the memorable battles of that time. May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, he wa? v.'Ounded severely by his own troops, two balls shattering his left arm and anotiier passing through the palm of his right hand. The left arm was amputated, but pneumonia intervened, and, weakened by the great loss of blood, he died May 10, 1863. The more his operations in the Shenandoah valley in 1862 are studied the more striking must the merits of this great soldier appear. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.— Near to the heart of the people of the Anglo-Saxon race will ever lie the verses of this, the "Quaker Poet." The author of "Barclay of Ury," "Maud Muller" and "Barbara Frietchie," always pure, fervid and direct, will be remembered when many a more ambitious writer has been forgotten. John G. Whittier was born at Haver- hill, Massachusetts, December 7, 1807, of Quaker parentage. He had but a common- school education and passed his boyhood days upon a farm. In early life he learned the trade of shoemaker. At the age of OS COMPEXBIi'M OF BIOGRAPHY eighteen he began to write verses for the Haverhill '' Gazette." He spent two years after that at the Haverhill academy, after which, in 1829, he became editor of the "American Manufacturer," at Boston. In 1830 he succeeded George D. Prentice as editor of the "New England Weekly Re- view," but the following year returned to Haverhill and engaged in farming. In 1832 and in 1836 he edited the " Gazette." In 1835 he was elected a member of the legis- lature, serving two years. In 1836 he became secretary of the Anti-slavery Society of Phil- adelphia. In 1838 and 1839 he edited the " Pennsylvania Freeman," but in the latter year the office was sacked and burned by a mob. In i84oWhittier settled at Ames- bury, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became corresponding editor of the " National Era," an anti-slavery paper published at Washing- ton, and contributed to its columns many of his anti-slavery and other favorite lyrics. Mr. Whittier lived for many years in retire- ment of Quaker simplicity, publishing several volumes of poetry which have raised him to a high place among American authors and brought to him the love and admiration of his countrymen. In the electoral colleges of i860 and 1864 Whittier was a member. Much of his time after 1876 was spent at Oak Knoll, Danvers, Massachusetts, but still retained his residence at Amesbury. He never married. His death occurred Sep- tember 7, 1892. The more prominent prose writings of John G. Whittier are as follows: "Legends of New England," " Justice and Expediency, or Slavery Considered with a View to Its Abo- lition," " The Stranger in Lowell," "Super- naturalism in New England," " Leaves from Margaret Smith's Journal," "Old Portraits and Modern Sketches" and "Literary Sketches." DAVID DIXON PORTER, illustrious as admiral of the United States navy, and famous as one of the most able naval offi- cers of America, was born in Pennsylvania, June 8, 1 8 14. His father was also a naval officer of distinction, who left the service of the United States to become commander of the naval forces of Me.xico during the war between that country and Spain, and through this fact David Dixon Porter was appointed a midshipman in the Mexican navy. Two years later David D. Porter joined the United States navy as midship- man, rose in rank and eighteen years later as a lieutenant he is found actively engaged in all the operations of our navy along the east coast of Mexico. When the Civil war broke out Porter, then a commander, was dispatched in the Powhattan to the relief of Fort Pickens, Florida. This duty accom- plished, he fitted out a mortar flotilla for the reduction of the forts guarding the ap- proaches to New Orleans, which it was con- sidered of vital importance for the govern- ment to get possession of. After the fall of New Orleans the mortar flotilla was actively engaged at Vicksburg, and in the fall of 1862 Porter was made a rear-admiral and placed in command of all the naval forces on the western rivers above New Orleans. The ability of the man was now con- spicuously manifested, not only in the bat- tles in which he was engaged, but also in the creation of a formidable fleet out of river steamboats, which he covered with such plating as they would bear. In 1864 he was transferred to the Atlantic coast to command the naval forces destined to oper- ate against the defences of Wilmington, North Carolina, and on Jan. 15, 1865, the fall of Fort Fisher was hailed by the country as a glorious termination of his arduous war service. In 1 866 he was made vice-admiral COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 69 and appointed superintendent of the Naval Academy. On the death of Farragut, in 1S70, he succeeded that able man as ad- miral of the navy. His death occurred at Washington, February 13, 1891. NATHANIEL GREENE was one of the best known of the distinguished gen- erals who led the Continental soldiery against the hosts of Great Britain during the Revolutionary war. He was the son of Quaker parents, and was born at War- wick, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. In youth he acquired a good education, chiefly by his own efforts, as he was a tireless reader. In 1770 he was elected a member of the Assembly of his native state. The news of the battle of Lexington stirred his blood, and he offered his services to the government of the colonies, receiving the rank of brigadier-general and the com- mand of the troops from Rhode Island. He led them to the camp at Cambridge, and for thus violating the tenets of their faith, he was cast out of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. Pie soon won the es- teem of General Washington. In August, 1776, Congress promoted Greene to the rank of major-general, and in the battles of Trenton and Princeton he led a division. At the battle of Brandy wine, September 1 1, 1777, he greatly distinguished himself, pro- tecting the retreat of the Continentals by his firm stand. At the battle of German- town, October 4, the same year, he com- manded the left wing of the army with credit. In March, 1778, he reluctantly ac- cepted the office of quartermaster-general, but only with the understanding that his rank in the army would not be affected and that in action he should retain his command. On the bloody field of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, he commanded the right wing, as lie did at the battle of Tiverton Heights. He was in command of the army in 1780, dur- ing the absence of Washington, and was president of the court-martial that tried and condemned Major Andre. After General Gates' defeat at Camden, North Carolina, in the summer of 1780, General Greene was ap- pointed to the command of the southern army. He sent out a force under General Morgan who defeated General Tarleton at Cowpens, January 17, 1781. On joining his lieuten- ant, in February, he found himself out num- bered by the British and retreated in good order to Virginia, but being reinforced re- turned to North Carolina where he fought the battle of Guilford, and a few days later compelled the retreat of Lord Cornwallis. The British were followed by Greene part of the way, when the American army marched into South Carolina. After vary- ing success he fought the battle of Eutaw Springs, Septembers, 17S1. For the latter battle and its glorious consequences, which virtually closed the war in the Carolinas, Greene received a medal from Congress and many valuable grants of land from the colonies of North and South Carolina and Georgia. On the return of peace, after a year spent in Rhode Island, General Greene took up his residence on his estate near Savannah, Georgia, where he died June 19, 1786. EDGAR ALLEN POE.— Among the many great literary men whom this country has produced, there is perhaps no name more widely known than that of Ed- gar Allen Poe. He was born at Boston, Massachusetts, February 19, 1809. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Arnold) Poe, both actors, the mother said to have been the natural daughter of Benedict Ar- nold. The parents died while Edgar was COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. still a child and he was adopted by John Allen, a wealthy and influential resident of Richmond, Virginia. Edgar was sent to school at Stoke, Newington, England, where he remained until he waG thirteen years old; was prepared for college by pri- vate tutors, and in i 826 entered the Virginia University at Charlottesville. He made rapid progress in his studies, and was dis- tinguished for his scholarship, but was ex- pelled within a year for gambling, after which for several years he resided with his benefactor at Richmond. He then went to Baltimore, and'in 1829 published a 71 -page pamphlet called "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems," which, however, at- tracted no attention and contained nothing of particular merit. In 1830 he was ad- mitted as a cadet at West Point, but was expelled about a year later for irregulari- ties. Returning to the home of Mr. Allen he remained for some time, and finally quarrelled with his benefactor and enlisted as a private soldier in the U. S. army, but remained only a short time. Soon after this, in 1833, Poe won several prizes for literary work, and as a result secured the position of editor of trhe "Southern Liter- ary Messenger," at Richmond, Virginia. Here he married his cousin, Virginia Clemm, who clung to hitn with fond devo- tion through all the many trials that came to them until her death in January, 1848. Poe remained with the "Messenger" for several years, writing meanwhile many tales, reviews, essays and poems. He aft- erward earned a precarious living by his pen in New York for a time; in 1839 be- came editor of "Burton's Gentleman's Magazine" ; in 1840 to 1842 was editor of " Graham's Magazine," and drifted around from one place to another, returning to New York in 1844. In 1845 his best known production, "The Raven," appeared in the "Whig Review," and gained him a reputation which is now almost world-wide. He then acted as editor and contributor on various magazines and periodicals until the death of his faithful wife in 1848. In the summer of 1849 he was engaged to be mar- ried to a lad}' of fortune in Richmond, Vir- ginia, and the day set for the wedding. He started for New York to make prepara- tions for the event, but, it is said, began drinking, was attacked with dilirium tre- mens in Baltimore and was removed to a hospital, where he died, October 7, 1849. The works of Edgar Allen Poe have been repeatedly published since his death, both in Europe and America, and have attained an immense popularity. HORATIO GATES, one of the prom- inent figures in the American war for Independence, was not a native of the col- onies but was born in England in 1728. In early life he entered the British army and attained the rank of major. At the capture of Martinico he was aide to General Monk- ton and after the peace of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, he was among the first troops that landed at Halifax. He was with Braddock at his defeat in 1755, and was there severe- ly wounded. At the conclusion of the French and Indian war Gates purchased an estate in Virginia, and, resigning from the British army, settled down to life as a planter. On the breaking out of the Rev- olutionary war he entered the service of the colonies and was made adjutant-general of the Continental forces with the rank oi brigadier-general. He accompanied Wash- ington when he assumed the command ol the army. In June, 1776, he was appoint- ed to the command of the army of Canada, but was superseded iu May of the following ClUfPEXDirM OF BIOGRAPHY 71 7year by General Schuyler. In August, 1777, however, the command of that army was restored to General Gates and Septem- ber 19 he fought the battle of Bemis Heights. October 7, the same year, he won the battle of Stillwater, or Saratoga, and October 17 received the surrender of General Burgoyne and his army, the pivotal point of the war. This gave him a brilliant reputation. June 13, 17S0, General Gates was appointed to the command of the southern military division, and August 16 of that year suffered defeat at the hands of Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, North Car- olina. In December following he was superseded in the command by General Nathaniel Greene. On the signing of the peace treaty Gen- eral Gates retired to his plantation in Berkeley county, Virginia, where he lived until 1790, when, emancipating all his slaves, he removed to New York City, where he resided until his death, April 10, 1806. LYMAN J. GAGE.— When President Mc- Kinley selected Lyman J. Gage as sec- retary of the treasury he chose one of the most eminent financiers of the century. Mr. Gage was born June 28, 1836, at De Ruy- ter, Madison county. New York, and was of English descent. He went to Rome, New York, with his parents when he was ten years old, and received his early education in the Rome Academy. Mr. Gage gradu- ated from the same, and his first position was that of a clerk in the post office. When he was fifteen years of age he was detailed as mail agent on the Rome & Watertown R. R. until the postmaster-general appointed regular agents for the route. In 1854, when he was in his eighteenth year, he entered the Oneida Central Bank at Rome as a junior clerk at a salary of one hundred dol- lars per year. Being unable at the end of one year and a half's service to obtain an increase in salary he determined to seek a wider field of labor. Mr. Gage set out in the fall of 1855 and arrived in Chicago, Illinois, on October 3, and soon obtained a situation in Nathan Cobb's lumber yard and planing mill. Ke remained there three years as a bookkeeper, teamster, etc., and left on account of change in the management. But not being able to find anything else to do he accepted the position of night watchman in the place for a period of six weeks. He then became a bookkeeper for the Mer- chants Saving, Loan and Trust Company at a salary of five hundred dollars per year^ He rapidly advanced in the service of this company and in 1868 he was made cashier. Mr. Gage was next offered the position of cashier of the First National Bank and ac- cepted the offer. He became the president of the First National Bank of Chicago Jan- uary 24, 1 89 1, and in 1897 he was appointed secretary of the treasury.- His ability as a financier and the prominent part he took in the discussion of financial affairs while presi- dent of the great Chicago bank gave him a national reputation. ANDREW JACKSON, the seventh pres- ident of the United States, was born at the Waxhaw settlement. Union county. North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carr- ickfergus, who came to this country in 1665 and settled on Twelve-Mile creek, a trib- utary of the Catawba. His father, who was a poor farm laborer, died shortly be- fore Andrew's birth, when the mother re- moved to Waxhaw, where some relatives lived. Andrew's education was very limited, he showing no aptitude for study. In 1780 when but thirteen years of age, he and hi,s COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH2: brother Robert volunteered to serve in the American partisan troops under General Sumter, and witnessed the defeat at Hang- ing Rock. The following year the boys were both taken prisoners by the enemy and endured brutal treatment from the British officers while confined at Camden. They both took the small pox, when the mother procured their exchange but Robert died shortly after. The mother died in Charleston of ship fever, the same year. Young Jackson, now in destitute cir- cumstances, worked for about six months in a saddler's shop, and then turned school master, although but little fitted for the position. He now began to think of a pro- fession and at Salisbury, North Carolina, entered upon the study of law, but from all •accounts gave but little attention to his books, being one of the most roistering, rollicking fellows in that town, indulging in many of the vices of his time. In 1786 he was admitted to the bar and in 1788 re- moved to Nashville, then in North Carolina, with the appointment of public prosecutor, then an office of little honor or emolument, but requiring much nerve, for which young Jackson was already noted. Two years later, when Tennessee became a territory he was appointed by Washington to the position of United States attorney for that district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel Robards, a daughter of Colonel John Don- elson, who was supposed at the time to have been divorced from her former hus- band that year by act of legislature of ^'ir- •ginia, but two years later, on finding that this divorce was not legal, and a new bill of separation being granted by the courts of Kentucky, they were remarried in 1793. This was used as a handler by his oppo- nents in the political campaign afterwards. Jackson was untiring in his efforts as United States attorney and obtained much influence. He was chosen a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1796, when Tennessee became a slate and was its first represent- ative in congress. In 1797 he was chosen United States senator, but resigned the fol- lowing year to accept a seat on the supreme court of Tennessee which he held until 1804. He was elected major-general of the militia of that state in 1801. In 1804, being unsuccessful in obtaining the govern- orship of Louisiana, the new territory, he retired from public life to the Hermitage, his plantation. On the outbreak of the war with Great Britain in 1812 he tendered his services to the government and went to New Orleans with the Tennessee troops in January, 181 3. In March of that year he was ordered to disband his troops, but later marched against the Cherokee Indians, de- feating them at Talladega, Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. Having now a national reputation, he was appointed major-general in the United States army and was sent against the British in Florida. He con- ducted the defence of Mobile and seized Pensacola. He then went with his troops to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he gained the famous victory of January 8, 18 15. In 18 1 7-18 he conducted a war against the Seminoles, and in 1821 was made governor of the new territory of Florida. In 1S23 he was elected United States senator, but in 1 824 Was the contestant with J. O. Adams for the presidency. Four years later he was elected president, and served two terms. In 1832 he took vigorous action against the nullifiers of South Carolina, and the next year removed the public money from the United States bank. During his second term the national debt was extinguished. At the close of his administration he retired to the Hermitage, where be died June 8, 1845. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 78 ANDREW CARNEGIE, the largest manu- facturer of pig-iron, steel rails and coke in the world, well deserves a place among America's celebrated men. He was born November 25, 1835, at Dunfermline, Scotland, and emigrated to the United States with his father in 1845, settling in Pittsburg. Two 3'ears later Mr. Carnegie began his business career by attending a small station- ary engine. This work did not suit him and he became a telegraph messenger with the Atlantic and Ohio Co., and later he became an operator, and was one of the first to read telegraphic signals by sound. Mr. Carnegie was afterward sent to the Pittsburg office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., as clerk to the superintendent and manager of the telegraph lines. While in this position he made the acquaintance of Mr. Woodruff, the inventor of the sleeping-car. Mr. Carnegie immediately became interested and was one of the organizers of the company for its con- struction after the railroad had adopted it, and the success of this venture gave him the nucleus of his wealth. He was promoted to the superintendency of the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and about this time was one of the syndicate that purchased the Storey farm on Oil Creek which cost forty thousand dollars and in one year it yielded over one million dollars in cash dividends. Mr. Carnegie later was as- sociated with others in establishing a rolling- mill, and from this has grown the most ex- tensive and complete system of iron and steel industries ever controlled by one indi- vidual, embracing the Edgar Thomson Steel Works; Pittsburg Bessemer Steel Works; Lucy Furnaces; Union Iron Mills; Union Mill; Keystone Bridge Works; Hartr man Steel Works; Prick Coke Co.; Scotia Ore Mines. Besides directing his immense iron industries he owned eighteen English newspapers which he ran in the interest of the Radicals. He has also devoted large sums of money to benevolent and educational purposes. In 1879 he erected commodious swimming baths for the people of Dunferm- line, Scotland, and in the following year gave forty thousand dollars for a free library. Mr. Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884 to found what is now called " Carnegie Lab- oratory, " and in 1885 gave five hundred thousand dollars to Pittsburg for a public library. He also gave two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a music hall and library in Allegheny City in 18S6, and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Edinburgh, Scot- land, for a free library. He also established free libraries at Braddock, Pennsylvania, and other places for the benefit of his em- ployes. He also published the following works, "An American Four-in-hand in Britain;" "Round the World;" "Trium- phant Democracy; or Fifty Years' March of the Republic." GEORGE H. THOMAS, the " Rock of Chickamauga," one of the best known commanders during the late Civil war, was born in Southampton county, Virginia, July 31, 1 8 16, his parents being of Welsh and French origin respectively. In 1836 young Thomas was appointed a cadet at the Mili- tary Academy, at West Point, from which he graduated in 1840, and was promoted to the office of second lieutenant in the Third Artillery. Shortly after, with his company, he went to Florida, where he served for two years against the Seminole Indians. In 1 84 1 he was brevetted first lieutenant for gallant conduct. He remained in garrison in the south and southwest until 1845, at which date with the regiment he joined the army under General Taylor, and participate 74 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPU} . ed in the defense of Fort Brown, the storm- ing of Monterey and the battle of Buena Vista. After the latter event he remained in garrison, now brevetted major, until the close of the Mexican war. After a year spent in Florida, Captain Thomas was or- dered to West Point, where he served as in- structor until 1854. He then was trans- ferred to California. In May, 1855, Thom- as was appointed major of the Second Cav- alry, with whom he spent five years in Texas. Although a southern man, and surrounded by brother officers who all were afterwards in the Confederate service, Major Thomas never swerved from his allegiance to the government. A. S. Johnston was the col- onel of the regiment, R. E. Lee the lieuten- ant-colonel, and W. J. Hardee, senior ma- jor, while among the younger officers were Hood, Fitz Hugh Lee, Van Dorn and Kirby Smith. When these officers left the regi- ment to take up arms for the Confederate cause he remained with it, and April 17th, 1 86 1, crossed the Potomac into his native state, at its head. After taking an active part in the opening scenes of the war on the Poto- mac and Shenandoah, in August, 1861, he was promoted to be brigadier-general and transferred to the Army of the Cumberland. January 19-20, 1862, Thomas defeated Crittenden at Mill Springs, and this brought him into notice and laid the foundation of his fame. He continued in command of his division until September 20, 1862, except during the Corinth campaign when he com- manded the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee. He was in command of the latter at the battle of Perryville, also, Octo- ber 8, 1862. On the division of the Army of the Cum- berland into corps, January 9, 1863, Gen- eral Thomas was assigned to the command of the Fourteenth, and at the battle of Chick- amauga, after the retreat of Rosecrans, firmly held his own against the hosts of Gen- eral Bragg. A history of his services from that on would be a history of the war in the southwest. On September 27, 1864, Gen- eral Thomas was given command in Ten- nessee, and after organizing his army, de- feated General Hood in the battle of Nash- ville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Much complaint was made before this on account of what they termed Thomas' slowness, and he was about to be superseded because he would not strike until he got ready, but when the blow was struck General Grant was the first to place on record this vindica- tion of Thomas' judgment. He received a vote of thanks from Congress, and from the legislature of Tennessee a gold medal. Af- ter the close of the war General Thomas had command of several of the military di- visions, and died at San Francisco, Cali- fornia, March 28, 1870. GEORGE BANCROFT, one of the most eminent American historians, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Worcester, October 3, 1800, and a son of Aaron Bancroft, D. D. The father, Aaron Ban- croft, was born at Reading, Massachusetts, November 10, 1755. He graduated at Harvard in 1778, became a minister, and for half a century was rated as one of the ablest preachers in New England. He was also a prolific writer and published a number of works among which was " Life of George Washington." Aaron Bancroft died August 19, 1839. The subject of our present biography, George Bancroft, graduated at Harvard in 1817, and the following year entered the University of Gottingen, where he studied history and philology under the most emi- nent teachers, and in 1820 received the de- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 75 fifree of doctor of philosophy at Gottingeii. Upon his return home he pubHshed a volume of poems, and later a translation of Heeren's " Reflections on the Politics of Ancient Greece." In 1834 he produced the first volume of his " History of the United States," this being followed by other vol- umes at different intervals later. This was bis greatest work and ranks as the highest authority, taking its place among the great- est of American productions. George Bancroft was appointed secretary of the navy by President Polk in 1845, but resigned in 1846 and became minister pleni- potentiary to England. In 1849 he retired from public life and took up his residence at Washington, D. C. In 1867 he was ap- pointed United States minister to the court of Berlin and negotiated the treaty by which Ger- mans coming to the United States were re- leased from their allegiance to the govern- ment of their native land. In 1871 he was minister plenipotentiary to the German em- pire and served until 1874. The death of George Bancroft occurred January 17, 1891. GEORGE GORDON MEADE, a fa- mous Union general, was born at Cadiz, Spain, December 30, 18 15, his father being United States naval agent at that port. After receiving a good education he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1 83 1. From here he was graduated June 30, 1835, ^nd received the rank of second lieutenant of artillery. He par- ticipated in the Seminole war, but resigned from the army in October, 1836. He en- tered upon the profession of civil engineer, which he followed for several years, part of the time in the service of the government in making surveys of the mouth of the Missis- sippi river. His report and results of some experiments made by him in this service gained Meade much credit. He alsu was employed in surveying the boundary luie of Texas and the northeastern boundary line between the United States and Canada. In 1842 he was reappointed in the arnjy to the position of second lieutenant of engineers. During the Mexican war he served with dis- tinction on the staff of General Taylor in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and the storming of Monterey. He received his brevet of first lieutenant for the latter action. In 1851 he was made full first lieutenant in his corps; a captain in 1856, and major soon after. At the close of the war with Mexico he was employed in light- house construction and in geodetic surveys until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in which he gained great reputation. In August, 1 86 1, he was made brigadier-general of volunteers and placed in command of the second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, a division of the First Corps in the Army of the Potomac. In the campaign of 1862, under McClellan, Meade took an active part, being present at the battles of Mechan- icsville, Gaines' Mill and Glendale, in the latter of which he was severely wounded. On rejoining his command he was given a division and distinguished himself at its head in the battles of South Mountain and Antie- tam. During the latter, on the wounding of General Hooker, Meade was placed in command of the corps and was himself slightly wounded. For services he was promoted, November, 1862, to the rank of major-general of volunteers. On the recovery of General Hooker General Meade returned to his division and in December, 1862, at Fredericksburg, led an attack which penetrated Lee's right line and swept to his rear. Being outnumbered and un- supported, he finally was driven back. The same month Meade was assigned to the 76 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. command of the Fifth Corps, and at Chan- cellorsville in May, 1863, his sagacity and ability so struck General Hooker that when the latter asked to be relieved of the com- mand, in June of the same year, he nomi- nated Meade as his successor. June 28, 1863, President Lincohi commissioned Gen- eral Meade commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac, then scattered and moving hastily through Pennsylvania to the great and decisive battlefield at Gettysburg, at which he was in full command. With the victory on those July days the name of Meade will ever be associated. From that time until the close of the war he com- manded the Army of the Potomac. In 1864 General Grant, being placed at the head of all the armies, took up his quarters with the Army of the Potomac. From that time until the surrender of Lee at Appo- matox Meade's ability shone conspicuously, and his tact in the delicate position in lead- ing his army under the eye of his superior officer commanded the respect and esteem of General Grant. For services Meade was promoted to the rank of major-general, and on the close of hostilities, in July, 1865, was assigned to the command of the military division of the Atlantic, with headquarters at Philadelphia. This post he held, with the exception of a short period on detached duty in Georgia, until his death, which took place November 6, 1872. DAVID CROCKETT was a noted hunter and scout, and also one of the earliest of American humorists. He was born Au- gust 17, 1786, in Tennessee, and was one of the most prominent men of his locality, serving as representative in congress from 1827 until 1 83 1. He attracted consider- able notice while a member of congress and was closely associated with General Jack- son, of whom he was a personal friend. Ke went to Texas and enlisted in the Texan army at the time of the revolt of Texas against Mexico and gained a wide reputa- tion as a scout. He was one of the famous one hundred and forty men under Colonel W. B. Travis who were besieged in P'ort Alamo, near San Antonio, Texas, by Gen- eral Santa Anna with some five thousand Mexicans on February 23, 1S36. The fort was defended for ten days, frequent assaults being repelled with great slaughter, over one thousand Mexicans being killed or wounded, while not a man in the fort was injured. Finally, on March 6, three as- saults were made, and in the hand-to-hand fight that followed the last, the Texans were wofully outnumbered and overpowered. They fought desperately with clubbed mus- kets till only six were left alive, including W. B. Travis, David Crockett and James Bowie. These surrendered under promise of protection; but when they were brought before Santa Anna he ordered them all to be cut to pieces. HENRY WATTERSON, one of the most conspicuous figures in the history of American journalism, was born at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, February 16, 1840. His boyhood days were mostly spent in the city of his birth, where his father, Harvey M. Watterson, was editor of the "Union," a well known journal. Owing to a weakness of the eyes, which interfered with a systematic course of study, young Watterson was educated almost en- tirely at home. A successful college career was out of the question, but he acquired a good knowledge of music, literature and art from private tutors, but the most valuable part of tiie training he received was by as- sociating with his father and the throng 01 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. public men whom he met in \\'ashington in the stirring days immediately preceding the Civil war. He began his journalistic career at an early age as dramatic and musical critic, and in 185S, became editor of the "Democratic Review" and at the same time contributed to the "States," a journal of liberal opinions published in Washington. In this he remained until the breaking out of the war, when the "States," opposing the administration, was suppressed, and young Watterson removed to Tennessee. He next appears as editor of the Nashville "Republican Banner," the moFt influential paper in the state at that time. After the occupation of Nashville by the Federal troops, Watterson served as a volunteer staff officer in the Confederate service until the close of the war, with the exception of a year spent in editing the Chattanooga "Rebel." On the close of the war he returned to Nashville and re- sumed his connection with the "Banner." After a trip to Europe he assumed control of the Louisville "Journal," which he soon combined with the "Courier" and the "Democrat" of that place, founding the well-known "Courier-Journal," the first number of which appeared November 8, 1868. Mr. Watterson also represented his district in congress for several years. )ATRICK SARSFIELD GILMORE, cue of the most successful and widely known bandmasters and musicians of the last half century in America, was born in Ballygar, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1829. He attended a public school until appren- ticed to a wholesale merchant at Athlbne, of the brass band of which town he soon became a member. His passion for music conflicting with the duties of a mercantile life, his position as clerk was exchanged for that of musical instructor to the young sons of his employer. At the age of nineteen he sailed for America and two days after his arrival in Boston was put in charge of the band instrument department of a prominent music house. In the interests of the pub- lications of this house he organized a minstrel company known as " Ord way's Eolians," with which he first achieved success as a cornet soloist. Later on he was called the best E-flat cornetist in the United States. He became leader, successively, of the Suf- folk, Boston Brigade and Salem bands. During his connection with the latter he inaugurated the famous Fourth of July con- certs on Boston Common, since adopted as a regular programme for the celebration of Independence Day. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore founded the organisation famous thereafter as Gilmore's Band. At the outbreak of the Civil war this band was attached to the Twenty-Fourth , Massachusetts Infantry. Later, when the economical policy of dis- pensing with music had proved a mistake, Gilmore was entrusted with the re-organiza- tion of state military bands, and upon his arrival at New Orleans with his own band was made bandmaster-general by General Banks. On the inauguration of Governor Hahn, later on, in Lafaj'ette square, New Orleans, ten thousand children, mostly of Confederate parents, rose to the baton of Gilmore and, accompanied by six hundred instruments, thirty-six guns and the united fire of three regiments of infantry, sang the Star-Spangled Banner, America and other patriotic Union airs. In June, 1867, Mr. Gilmore conceived a national musical festi- val, which was denounced as a chimericsl undertaking, but he succeeded and June 15. 1869, stepped upon the stage of the Boston Colosseum, a vast structure erected for the occasion, and in the presence of over fifty COMTENDJUM OF BIOGRArHT. thousand people lifted his baton over an orchestra of one thousand and a chorus of ten thousand. On the 17th of June, 1872, he opened a still greater festival in Boston, ■when, in addition to an orchestra of two thousand and a chorus of twenty thousand, were present the Band of the Grenadier Guards, of London, of the Garde Repub- licaine, of Paris, of Kaiser Franz, of Berlin, and one from Dublin, Ireland, together with Johann Strauss, Franz Abt and many other soloists, vocal and instrumental. Gilmore's death occurred September 24, 1S92. M ARTIN VAN BUREN was the eighth president of the United States, 1837 to 1841. He was of Dutch extraction, and his ancestors were among the earliest set- tlers on the banks of the Hudson. He was born December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook, New York. Mr. Van Buren took up the study of law at the age of fourteen and took an active part in political matters before he had attained his majority. He commenced the practice of law in 1803 at his native town, and in 1S09 he removed to Hudson, Columbia county, New York, where he spent seven years gaining strength and wis- dom from his contentions at the bar with some of the ablest men of the profession. Mr. Van Buren was elected to the state senate, and from 18 15 until 18 19 he was at- torney-general of the state. He was re- elected to the senate in i8i6, and in 18 18 he was one of the famous clique of politi- cians known as the "Albany regency." Mr. Van Buren was a member of the con- vention for the revision of the state consti- tution, in 182 I. In the same year he was elected to the United States senate and served his term in a manner that caused his re-election to that body in 1827, but re- signed the following year as he had been elected governor of New York. Mr. Van Buren was appointed by President Jackson as secretary of state in March, 1829, but resigned in 1831, and during the recess of congress he was appointed minister to England. The senate, however, when it convened in December refused to ratify the appointment. In May, 1832, he was nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for vice-presi- dent on the ticket with Andrew Jackson, and he was elected in the following Novem- ber. He received the nomination to suc- ceed President Jackson in 1836, as the Democratic candidate, and in the electoral college he received one hundred and seventy votes out of two hundred and eighty-three, and was inaugurated March 4, 1837. His administration was begun at a time of great business depression, and unparalled financial distress, which caused the suspension of specie payments by the banks. Nearly every bank in the country was forced to suspend specie payment, and no less than two hundred and fifty-four business houses failed in New York in one week. The President urged the adoption of the inde- pendent treasury idea, which passed through the senate twice but each time it was de- feated in the house. However the measure ultimately became a law near the close of President Van Buren's term of office. An- other importaat measure that was passed was the pre-emption law that gave the act- ual settlers preference in the purchase of public lands. The question of slavery had begun to assume great preponderance dur- ing this administration, and a great conflict was tided over by the passage of a resolu- tion that prohibited petitions or papers that in any way related to slavery to be acted upon. In the Democratic convention of 1840 President Van Buren secured the nomination for re-election on that ticket COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAriir. 79 without opposition, but in the election he only received the votes of seven states, his opponent, W. H. Harrison, being elected president. In 1848 Mr. Van Buren was the candidate of the " Free-Soilers," but was unsuccessful. After this he retired from public life and spent the remainder of his life on his estate at Kinderhook, where he died July 24, 1862. W INFIELD SCOTT, a distinguished American general, was born June 13, 1786, near Petersburg, Dinwiddle county, Virginia, and was educated at the Wiliiam and Mary College. He studied law and was .admitted to the bar, and in 1808 he accepted an appointment as captain of light artillery, and was ordered to New Orleans. In June, 18 1 2, he was promoted to be lieutenant- ■colonel, and on application was sent to the frontier, and reported to General Smyth, near Buffalo. He was made adjutant-gen- •eral with the rank of a colonel, in March, 1 8 1 3, and the same month attained the colo- nelcy of his regiment. He participated in the principal battles of the war and was wounded many times, and at the close of the war he was voted a gold medal by con- gress for his services. He was a writer of considerable merit on military topics, and he gave to the military science, "General Regulations of the Army " and " System of Infantry and Rifle Practice." He took a prominent part in the Black Hawk war, and at the beginning of the Mexican war he was appointed to take the command of the army. Gen. Scott immediately assembled his troops at Lobos Island from which he moved by transports to Vera Cruz, which he took March 29, 1847, and rapidly fol- lowed up his first success. He fought the ■battles of Cerro Gordo and Jalapa, both of which he won, and proceeded to Pueblo where he was preceded by Worth's division which had taken the town and waited for the coming of Scott. The army was forced to wait here for supplies, and August 7th, General Scott started on his victorious march to the city of Mexico with ten thou- sand, seven hundred and thirty-eight men. The battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and San Antonio were fought August 19-20, and on the 24th an armistice was agreed upon, but as the commissioners could not agree on the terms of settlement, the fight- ing was renewed at Molino Del Rey, and the Heights of Chapultepec were carried by the victorious army of General Scott. He gave the enemy no respite, however, and vigorously followed up his advantages. On September 14, he entered the City of Mexico and dictated the terms of surrender in the very heart of the Mexican Republic. General Scott was offered the presidency of the Mexican Republic, but declined. Con- gress extended him a vote of thanks and ordered a gold medal be struck in honor of his generalship and bravery. He was can- didate for the presidency on the Whig plat- form but was defeated. He was honored by having the title of lieutenant-general con- ferred upon him in 1855. At the beginning of the Civil war he was too infirm to take charge of the army, but did signal service in be- half of the government. He retired from the service November i, 1861, and in 1864. he published his "Autobiography." Gen- eral Scott died at West Point, May 29, 1866 EDWARD EVERETT HALE for many years occupied a high place among the most honored of America's citizens. As a preacher he ranks among the foremost in the New England states, but to the gen ■ eral public he is best known through his writings. Born in Boston, Mass., April 3, 80 coMPExnn.^f OF nioGRAi'Jir. 1822, a descendant of one of the most ^jrominent New England families, he enjoyed in his youth many of the advantages denied the majority of boys. He received his pre- paratory schooling at the Boston Latin School, after which he finished his studies at Harvard where he was graduated with high honors in 1839. Having studied theology at home, Mr. Hale embraced the ministry and in 1846 became pastor of a Unitarian church in Worcester, Massachusetts, a post which he occupied about ten years. He then, in 1856, became pastor of the South Congregational church in Boston, over which he presided many years. Mr. Hale also found time to write a great many literary works of a high class. v\mong many other well-known productions -ii his are " The Rosary," " Margaret Per- iival in America." "Sketches of Christian -Jistory," "Kansas and Nebraska," "Let- ters on Irish Emigration," " Ninety Days' Worth of Europe," " If, Yes, and Perhaps," "Ingham Papers," "Reformation," "Level Best and Other Stories, " " Ups and Downs, " "Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," " In His Name," "Our New Crusade," "Work- ingmen's Homes," "Boys' Heroes," etc., etc., besides many others which might be mentioned. One of his works, " In His Name," has earned itself enduring fame by the good deeds it has called forth. The numerous associations known as ' 'The King's Daughters," which has accomplished much good, owe their existence to the story men- tioned. DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT stands pre-eminent as one of the greatest na- val officers of the world. He was born at Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, July 5, 1801, and entered the navy of the United States as a midshipman. He had the good fortune to serve under Captain David Por- ter, who commanded the " Esse.x," and by whom he was taught the ideas of devotion to duty from which he never swerved dur- ing all his career. In 1823 Mr. Farragut took part in a severe fight, the result of which was the suppression of piracy in the West Indies. He then entered upon the regular duties of his profession which was only broken into by a year's residence with Charles Folsom, our consul at Tunis, who was afterwards a distinguished professor at Harvard. Mr. Farragut was one of the best linguists in the navy. He had risen through the different grades of the service until the war of 1861-65 found him a captain resid- ing at Norfolk, Virginia. He removed with his family to Hastings, on the Hudson, and hastened to offer his services to the Federal government, and as the capture of New Orleans had been resolved upon, Farragut was chosen to command the expedition. His force consisted of the West Gulf block- ading squadron and Porter's mortar flotilla. In January, 1862, he hoisted his pennant at the mizzen peak of the "Hartford"' at Hampton roads, set sail from thence on the 3rd of February and reached Ship Island on the 20th of the same month. A council of war was held on the 20th of April, in which it was decided that whatever was to be done must be done quickly. The signal was made from the flagship and accordingly the fleet weighed anchor at 1:55 on the morning of April 24th, and at 3:30 the whole force was underway. Thehistory of this brilliant strug- gle is well known, and the glory of it made Far- ragut a hero and also made him rear admir- al. In the summer of 1 862 he ran the batteries at Vicksburg, and on March 14, 1863, he passed through the fearful and destructive fire from Port Hudson, and opened up com- munication with Flag-officer Porter, whO' COMPEXDIVM OF BIOGRArHT. m had control of the upper Mississippi. On May 24th he commenced active operations against that fort in conjunction with the army and it fell on July 9th. Mr. Farragut filled the measure of his fame on the 5th of Au- gust, 1864, by his great victory, thecapture of Mobile Bay and the destruction of the Confederate fleet, including the formidable ram Tennessee. For this victory the rank of admiral was given to Mr. Farragut. He died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Au- gust 4, 1870. GEORGE W. CHILDS, a philanthropist whose remarkable "personality stood for the best and highest type of American citizenship, and whose whole life was an object lesson in noble living, was born in 1829 at Baltimore, Maryland, of humble parents, and spent his early life in unremit- ting toil. He was a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word, and gained his great wealth by his own efforts. He was a man of very great influence, and this, in conjunction with his wealth, would have been, in the hands of other men, a means of getting them political preferment, but Mr. Childs steadily declined any suggestions that would bring him to figure prominently in public affairs. He did not choose to found a financial dynasty, but devoted all his powers to the helping of others, with the most enlightened beneficence and broadest sympathy. Mr. Childs once remarked that his greatest pleasure in life was in doing good to others. He always despised mean- ness, and one of his objects of life was to prove that a man could be liberal and suc- cessful at the same time. Upon these lines Mr. Childs made a name for himself as the director of one of the representative news- papers of America, "The Philadelphia Pub- lic Ledger," which was owned jointly by himself and the Drexel estate, and which he edited for thirty years. He acquired con- trol of the paper at a time when it was be- ing published at a heavy loss, set it upon a firm basis of prosperity, and he made it more than a money- making machine — he made it respected as an exponent of the best side of journalism, and it stands as a monument to his sound judgment and up- right business principles. Mr. Childs' char- itable repute brought him many applications for assistance, and he never refused to help any one that was deserving of aid; and not only did he help those who asked, but he would by careful inquiry find those who needed aid but were too proud to solicit it. He was a ' considerable employer of labor and his liberality was almost unparalleled. The death of this great and good man oc- curred February 3d, 1894. PATRICK HENRY won his way to un dying fame in the annals of the early history of the United States by introducing into the house of burgesses his famous reso- lution against the Stamp Act, which he car- ried through, after a stormy debate, by a majority of one. At this time he exclaimed " Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Crom- well and George IH " (here he was inter- rupted by cries of " treason ") " may profit by their example. If this be treason make the most of it." Patrick Henry was born at Studley, Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736, and was a son of Colonel John Henry, a magistrate and school teacher of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a nephew of Robertson, the historian. He received his education from his father, and was married at the age of eighteen. He was twice bankrupted before he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when after six weeks of study he was admitted to 84 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. the bar. He worked for three years with- out a case and finally was applauded for his plea lor the people's rights and gained im- mense popularity. After his famous Stamp Act resolution he was the leader of the pa- triots in Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted to practice in the general courts and speed- ily won a fortune by his distinguished ability as a speaker. He was the first speaker of the General Congress at Philadelphia in 1774. He was for a time a colonel of militia in 1775, and from 1776 to 1779 and 1 78 1 to 1786 he was governor of Virginia. For a number of years he retired from pub- lic life and was tendered and declined a number of important political offices, and in March, 1789, he was elected state senator but oid not take his seat on account of his death which occurred at Red Hill, Charlotte county, Virginia, June 6, 1799. BENEDICT ARNOLD, an American general and traitor of the Revolution- ary war, is one of the noted characters in American history. He was born in Nor- wich, Connecticut, January 3, 1740. He ran away and enlisted in the army when young, but deserted in a short time. He then became a merchant at New Haven, Connecticut, but failed. In 1775 he was commissioned colonel in the Massachusetts militia, and in the autumn of that year was placed in command of one thousand men for the invasion of Canada. He marched his army through the forests of Maine and joined General Montgomery before Quebec. Their combined forces attacked that city on December 31, 1775, and Montgomery was killed, and Arnold, severely wounded, was compelled to retreat and endure a rigorous winter a few miles from the city, where they were at the mercy of the Canadian troops had they cared to attack them. On his re- turn he was raised to the rank of brigadier- general. He was given command of a small flotilla on Lake Champlain, with which he encountered an immense force, and though defeated, performed many deeds of valor. He resented the action of congress in pro- moting a number of his fellow officers and neglecting himself. In 1777 he was made major-general, and under General Gates at Bemis Heights fought valiantly. For some reason General Gates found fault with his conduct and ordered him under arrest, and he was kept in his tent until the battle of Stillwater was waxing hot, when Arnold mounted his horse and rode to the front of his old troop, gave command to charge, and rode like a mad man into the thickest of the fight and was not overtaken by Gates' courier until he had routed the enemy and fell wounded. Upon his recovery he was made general, and was placed in command at Philadelphia. Here he married, and his acts of rapacity soon resulted in a court- martial. He was sentenced to be repri- manded by the commander-in-chief, and though Washington performed this duty with utmost delicacy and consideration, it was never forgiven. Arnold obtained com- mand at West Point, the most important post held by the Americans, in 1780, and immediately offered to surrender it to Sir Henry Clinton, British commander at New York. Major Andre was sent to arrange details with Arnold, but on his return trip to New York he was captured by Americans, the plot was detected, and Andre suffered the death penalty as a spy. Arnold es- caped, and was paid about $40,000 by the British for his treason and was made briga- dier-general. He afterward commanded an expedition that plundered a portion of Vir- ginia, and another that burned New Lon- don, Connecticut, and captured Fort Trum- coMPEXBii'M ar BIOGRArnr 85. bull, the commandant of which Arnold mur- dered with the sword he had just surren- dercd. He passed the latter part of his life in England, universally despised, and died in London June 14, 1801. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, one of the most brilliant orators that America has produced, also a lawyer of considerable merit, won most of his fame as a lecturer. Mr. Ingersoll was born Auj:;ust 24, 1833, at Dryden, Gates county. New York, and received hiseducation in the common schools. He went west at the age of twelve, and for a short time he attended an academy in Tennessee, and also taught school in that state. He began the practice of law in the southern part of Illinois in 1854. Colonel Iiigcrsoll's principal fame was made in the lecture room by his lectures in which he ridiculed religious faith and creeds and criti- cised the Bible and the Christian religion. He was the orator of the day in the Decora- tion Day celebration in the city of New York in 1S82 and his oration was widely com- mended. He first attracted political notice in the convention at Cincinnati in 1876 by his brilliant eulogy on James G. Blaine. He practiced law in Peoria, Illinois, for a num- ber of years, but later located in the city of New York. He published the follow- ing: "The Gods and other Lectures;" "The Ghosts;" "Some Mistakes of Moses;" "What Shall I Do To Be Saved;" "Inter- views on Talmage and Presbyterian Cate- chism ;" The "North American Review Controversy;" "Prose Poems;" " A Vision of War;" etc. JOSEPH ECCLESTON JOHNSTON, a noted general in the Confederate army, was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, in 1S07. He graduated from West Point and entered the army in 1829. For a num- ber of years his chief service was garrison duty. He saw active service, however, in the Seminole war in Florida, part of the time as a staff officer of General Scott. He resigtied his commission in 1S37, but re- turned to the army a year later, and was brevetted captain for gallant services in Florida. He was made first lieutenant of topographical engineers, and was engaged in river and harbor improvements and also in the survey of the Texas boundary and the northern boundary of the United States until the beginning of the war with Mexico. He was at the siege of Vera Cruz, and at the battle of Cerro Gordo, was wounded while reconnoitering the enemy's position, after which he was brevetted major and colonel. He was in all the battles about the city of Mexico, and was again wounded in the final assault upon that city. After the Mexican war closed he returned to duty as captain of topographical engineers, but in 1855 he was made lieutenant-colonel of cavalry and did frontier duty, and was ap- pointed inspector-general of the expedition to Utah. In i860 he was appointed quar- termaster-general with rank of brigadier- general. At the outbreak of hostilities in 1 86 1 he resigned his commission and re- ceived the appointment of major-general of the Confederate army. He held Harper's Ferry, and later fought General Patterson about Winchester. At the battle of Bull Run he declined command in favor of Beau- regard, and acted underthat general's direc- tions. He commanded the Confederates in the famous Peninsular campaign, and was severely wounded at Fair Oaks and was succeeded in command by General Lee. Upon his recovery he was made lieutenant- general and assigned to the command of the southwestern department. He attempted SB COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRAPHr. to raise the siege of Vicksburg, and was finally defeated at Jackson, Mississippi. Having been made a general he succeeded General Bragg in command of the army of Tennessee and was ordered to check General Sherman's advance upon Atlanta. Not daring to risk a battle with the overwhelm- ing forces of Sherman, he slowly retreated toward Atlanta, and was relieved of com- mand by President Davis and succeeded by General Hood. Hood utterly destroyed his own army by three furious attacks upon Sherman. Johnston was restored to com- mand in the Carolinas, and again faced Sherman, but was defeated in several en- gagements and continued a slow retreat toward Richmond. Hearing of Lee's sur- render, he communicated with General Sherman, and finally surrendered his army at Durham, North Carolina, April 26, 1865. General Johnston was elected a member of the forty-sixth congress and was ap- pointed United States railroad commis- sioner in 1885. His death occurred March 21, 1891. SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS, known throughout the civilized world as "Mark Twain," is recognized as one of the greatest humorists America has pro- duced. He was born in Monroe county, Missouri, November 30, 1835. Hespenthis boyhood days in his native state and many of his earlier experiences are related in vari- ous forms in his later writings. One of his early acquaintances, Capt. Isaiah Sellers, at an early day furnished river news for the New Orleans " Picayune," using the 710111- dc- plume of "Mark Twain." Sellers died in 1863 and Clem.ens took up his iioin-dc- phnnc and made it famous throughout the world by his literary work. In 1862 Mr. Clemens became a journalist at Virginia, Nevada, and afterward followed the same pro- fession at San Francisco and Buffalo, New York. He accumulated a fortune from the sale of his many publications, but in later years engaged in business enterprises, partic- ularly the manufacture of a typesetting ma- chine, which dissipated his fortune and re- duced him almost to poverty , but with resolute heart he at once again took up his pen and engaged in literary work in the effort to regain his lost ground. Among the best known of his works may be mentioned the fol- lowing: "The Jumping Frog, " "Tom Saw- yer," " Roughingit," " Innocents Abroad," "Huckleberry Finn," "Gilded Age," "Prince and Pauper," "Million Pound Bank Note," "A Yankee in King Arthur's Court," etc. CHRISTOPHER CARSON, better known as "Kit Carson;" was an Amer- ican trapper and scout who gained a wide reputation for his frontier work. He was a native of Kentucky, born December 24th, 1S09. He grew to manhood there, devel- oping a natural inclination for adventure in the pioneer experiences in his native state. When yet a young man he became quite well known on the frontier. He served as a guide to Gen. Fremont in his Rocky Mountain explorations and enlisted in the army. He was an officer in the United States service in both the Mexican war and the great Civil war, and in the latter received a brevet of brigadier-general for meritorious service. His death occurred May 23, 1868. JOHN SHERMAN.— Statesman, politi- cian, cabinet officer and senator, the name of the gentleman who heads this sketch is al- most a household word throughout this country. Identified with some of the most COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. iinpoitant measures adopted by our Govern- ment since the close of the Civil war, he may well be called one of the leading men of his day. John Sherman was born at Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, May lOth, 1823, the son of Charles R. Sherman, an emi- nent lawyer and judge of the supreme court of Ohio and who died in 1S29. The subject of this article received an academic educa- tion and was admitted to the bar in 1844. In the Whig conventions of 1844 and 1848 he sat as a delegate. He was a member of the National house of representatives, from 1855 to 1 86 1. In i860 he was re- elected to the same position but was chosen United States senator before he took his seat in the lower house. He was re-elected senator in 1866 and 1872 and was long chairman of the committee on finance and on agriculture. He took a prominent part in debates on finance and on the conduct of the war, and was one of the authors of the reconstruction measures in 1866 and 1867, and was appointed secretary of the treas- ury March 7th, 1877. Mr. Sherman was re-elected United States senator from Ohio January i8th, 1881, and again in 1886 and 1892, during which time he was regarded as one of the most promi- nent leaders of the Republican party, both in the senate and in the country. He was several times the favorite of his state for the nomination for president. On the formation of his cabinet in March, 1897, President McKinley tendered the posi- tion of secretary of state to Mr. Sherman, which was accepted. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, ninth president of the United States, was born in Charles county, Virginia, February 9, 1773, the son of Governor Benjamin Harrison. He took a course in Hampden- Sidney College with a view to the practice of medicine, and then went to Philadelphia to study under Dr. Rush, but in 1791 he entered the army, and obtained the commis- sion of ensign, was soon promoted to the lieutenancy, and was with General Wayne in his war against the Indians. For his valuable service he was promoted to the rank of captain and given command of Fort Washington, now Cincinnati. He was ap- pointed secretary of the Northwest Territory in 1797, and in 1799 became its representa- tive in congress. In 1801 he was appointed governor of Indiana Territory, and held the position for twelve years, during which time he negotiated important treaties with the In- dians, causing them to relinquish millions of acres of land, and also won the battle of Tippecanoe in 181 1. He succeeded in obtaining a change in the law which did not permit purchase of public lands in less tracts than four thousand acres, reducing the limit to three hundred and twenty acres. He became major-general of Kentucky militia and brigadier-general in the United States army in 1812, and won great renown in the defense of Fort Meigs, and his victory over the British and Indians under Proctor and Tecumseh at the Thames river, October 5. 1813. In 1 8 16 General Harrison was elected to congress from Ohio, and during the canvass was accused of corrupt methods in regard to the commissariat of the army. He demanded an investigation after the election and was exonerated. In 1819 he was elected to the Ohio state senate, and in 1824 he gave his vote as a presidential elector to Henry Clay. He became a member of the United States senate the same year. During the last year of Adams' administration he was sent as minister to Colombia, but was re- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. called by President Jackson the following year. He then retired to his estate at North Bend, Ohio, a few miles below Cincinnati. In 1836 he was a candidate for the presidency, but as there were three other candidates the votes were divided, he receiving seventy- three electoral votes, a majority going to Mr. Van Buren, the Democratic candidate. Four years later General Harrison w^as again nominated by the Whigs, and elected by a tremendous majority. The campaign, was noted for its novel features, many of which have found a permanent place in subsequent campaigns. Those peculiar to that cam- paign, however, were the " log-cabin " and " hard cider" watchwords, which produced great enthusiasm among his followers. One month afler his inauguration he died from an attack of pleurisy, April 4, 1S41. CHARLES A. DANA, the well-known and widely-read journalist of New York City, a native of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, was born August 8, 1819. He received the elements of a good education in his youth and studied for two years at Harvard University. Owing to some disease of the eyes he was unable to complete his course and graduate, but was granted the degree of A. M. notwithstanding. For some time he was editor of the " Harbinger," and was a regular contributor to the Boston " Chrono- type." In 1S47 he became connected with the New York ' ' Tribune, " and continued on the staff of that journal until 1858. In the latter jear he edited and compiled "The Household Book of Poetry," and later, in connection with George Ripley, edited the "New American Cyclopaedia." Mr. Dana, on severing his connection with the "Tribune" in 1867, became editor of the New York "Sun," a paper with which he was identified for many years, and which he made one of the leaders of thougiit in the eastern part of the United States. He wielded a forceful pen and fearlessly attacked, whatever was corrupt and unworthy in politics, state or national. The same year, 1867, Mr. Dana organized the New York "Sun " Company. During the troublous days of the war, when the fate of the Nation depended upon the armies in the field, Mr. Dana accepted the arduous and responsible position of assistant secretary of war, and held the position during the greater part of 1863 and 1864. He died October 17, 1897. ASA GRAY was recognized throughout the scientific world as one of the ablest and most eminent of botanists. He was born at Paris, Oneida county, New York, November 18, 18 10. He received his medi- cal degree at the Fairfield College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, in Herkimer county. New York, and studied botany with the late Professor Torrey, of New York. He was appointed botanist to the Wilkes expedition in 1834, but declined the offer and became professor of natural history in Harvard Uni- versity in 1842. He retired from the active duties of this post in 1873, and in 1874 he was the regent of the Smithsonian Institu- tion at Washington, District of Columbia. Dr. Gray wrote several books on the sub- ject of the many sciences of which he was master. In 1836 he published his " Ele- ments of Botany," "Manual of Botany" in 1848; the unfinished "Flora of North America," by himself and Dr. Torrey, the publication of which commenced in 1838. There is another of his unfinished works called "Genera Boreali-Americana, " pub- lished in 1848, and the "Botany of the United States Pacific Exploring Expedition in 1854." He wrote many elaborate papers COMPEXDIUM OF BlOGRAPlir. 89 on the botany of the west and southwest that were published in the Smithsonian Con- tributions, Memoirs, etc., of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, of which in- stitution he was president for ten years. He was also the author of many of the government reports. " How Plants Grow," " Lessons in ISotany," " Structural and Sys- tematic Botany," are also works from his ready pen. Dr. Gray published in 1861 his "Free Examination of Darwin's Treatise " and his " Darwiniana," in 1876. Mr. Gray was elected July 29, 1878, to a membership in the Institute of France, Academy of Sciences. His death occurred at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, January 30, 1889. WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS was one of the greatest leaders of the American bar. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 6, 18 18, and grad- uated from Yale College in 1837. He took up the study of law, which he practiced in the city of New York and won great renown as an orator and advocate. He affiliated with the Republican party, which he joined soon after its organization. He was the leading counsel employed for the defense of President Johnson in his trial for impeach- ment before the senate in April and May of 1868. In July, 1868, Mr. Evarts was appointed attorney-general of the United States, and served until March 4, 1869. He was one of the three lawyers who were selected by President Grant in 1871 to defend the inter- ests of the citizens of the United States be- fore the tribunal of arbitration which met at Geneva in Switzerland to settle the con- troversy over the " Alabama Claims." He was one of the most eloquent advo- cates in the United States, and many of his public addresses have been preserved and published. He was appointed secretary of state March 7, 1877, by President Hayes, and served during the Hayes administration. He was elected senator from the state of New York January 21, 1885, and at once took rank among the ablest statesmen in Congress, and the prominent part he took in the discussion of public questions gave him a national reputation. JOHN \VANAMAKER.--The life of this *J great merchant demonstrates the fact that the great secret of rising from the ranks is, to-day, as in the past ages, not so much the ability to make money, as to save it, or in other words, the ability to live well within one's incom.e. Mr. Wanamaker was born in Philadelphia in 1S38. He started out in life working in a brickyard for a mere pit- tance, and left that position to work in a book store as a clerk, where he earned the sum of $5.00 per month, and later on was in the employ of a clothier where he received twenty-five cents a week more. He was only fifteen years of age at that time, but was a " money-getter " by instinct, and laid by a small sum for a possible rainy day. By strict attention to business, com- bined with natural ability, he v/as promoted many times, and at the age of twenty he had saved $2,000. After several months vacation in the south, he returned to Phila- delphia and became a master brick mason, but this was too tiresome to the young man, . and he opened up the " Oak Hall " clothing store in April, 1861, at Philadelphia. The capital of the firm was rather limited, but finally, after many discouragements, they laid the foundations of one of the largest business houses in the world. The estab- lishment covers at the present writing some fourteen acres of floor space, and furnishes 90 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. employment for five thousand persons. Mr. Wanamaker was also a great church worker, and built a church that cost him $60,000, and he was superintendent of the Sunday- school, which had a membership of over three thousand children. He steadily re- fused to run for mayor or congress and the only public office that he ever held was that of postmaster-general, under the Harrison administration, and here he exhibited his extraordinary aptitude for comprehending the details of public business. ^.^VID BENNETT HILL, a Demo- cratic politician who gained a na- tional reputation, was born August 29, 1843, at Havana, New York. He was educated at the academy of his native town, and removed to Elmira, New York, in 1862, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1864, in which year he was ap- pointed city attorney. Mr. Hill soon gained a considerable practice, becoming prominent in his profession. He developed a taste for politics in which he began to take an active part in the different campaigns and became the recognized leader of the local Democ- racy. In 1870 he was elected a member of the assembly and was re-elected in 1872. While a member of this assembly he formed the acquaintance of Samuel J. Tilden, after- ward governor of the state, who appointed Mr. Hill, W. M. Evarts and Judge Hand as a committee to provide a uniform charter for the different cities of the state. The pressure of professional engagements com- pelled him to decline to serve. In 1877 I\lr. Hill was made chairman of the Demo- cratic state convention at Albany, his elec- tion being due to the Tilden wing of the party, and he held the same position again in 1 88 1. He served one term as alderman in Elmira, at the expiration of which term, in 1882, he was elected mayor of Elmira, and in September of the same year was nominated for lieutenant-governor on the Democratic state ticket. He was success- ful in the campaign and two years later, when Grover Cleveland was elected to the presidency, Mr. Hill succeeded to the gov- ernorship for the unexpired term. In 1885 he was elected governor for a full term of three years, at the end of which he was re- elected, his term expiring in 1891, in which year he was elected United States senator. In the senate he became a conspicuous figure and gained a national reputation. ALLEN G. THURMAN. — " The noblest Roman of them all " was the title by which Mr. Thurman was called by his com- patriots of the Democracy. He was the greatest leader of the Democratic party in his day and held the esteem of all the people, regardless of their political creeds. Mr. Thurman was born November 13, 18 13, at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained until he had attained the age of six years, when he moved to Ohio. He received an academic education and after graduating, took up the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1835, and achieved a brilliant success ia that line. In political life he was very successful, and his first office was that of representative of the state of Ohio in the twenty-ninth congress. He was elected judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1851, and was chief justice of the same from 1S54 to 1856. In 1867 he was the choice of the Democratic party of his state for governor, and was elected to the United States senate in 1869 to succeed Benjamin F. Wade, and was re-elected to the same position in 1874. He was a prom.inent figure in the senate, until the expiration of his service in 1881. Mr. Thurman w-as also one of the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAP/Il'. 91 principal presidental possibilities in the Democratic convention held at St. Louis in 1876. In 1888 he was the Democratic nominee for vice-president on the ticket with Grover Cleveland, but was defeated. Allen Cranberry Thurman died December 12, 1895, at Columbus, Ohio. CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE, better known as " Artemus Ward," was born April 26, 1834, in the village of Waterford, Maine. He was thirteen years old at the time of his father's death, and about a year later he was apprenticed to John M. Rix, who published the "Coos County Dem- ocrat " at Lancaster, New Hampshire. Mr. Browne remained with him one year, when, hearing that his brother Cyrus was starting a paper at Norway, Maine, he left Mr. Rix and determined to get work on the new paper. He worked for his brother until the failure of the newspaper, and then went to Augusta, Maine, where he remained a few weeks and then removed to Skovvhegan, and secured a position on the "Clarion." But either the climate or the work was not satisfactory to him, for one night he silently left the town and astonished his good mother by appearing unexpectedly at home. Mr. Browne then received some letters of recom- mendation to Messrs. Snow and Wilder, of Boston, at whose office Mrs. Partington's (B. P. Shillaber) ' ' Carpet Bag " was printed, and he was engaged and remained there for three years. He then traveled westward in search of employment and got as far as Tif- fin, Ohio, where he found employment in the office of the "Advertiser," and remained there some months when he proceeded to Toledo, Ohio, where he became one of the staff of the "Commercial," which position he held until 1857. Mr. Browne next went i;o Cleveland, Ohio, and became the local editor of the "Plain Dealer," and it was in the columns of this paper that he published his first articles and signed them "Artemus Ward." In i860 he went to New York and became the editor of " Vanity Fair," but the idea of lecturing here seized him, and he was fully determined to make the trial. Mr. Browne brought out his lecture, "Babes in the Woods " at Clinton Hall, December 23, 1861, and in 1862 he published his first book entitled, " Artemus Ward; His Book." He attained great fame as a lecturer and his lectures were not confined to America, for he went to England in 1866, and became exceedingly popular, both as a lecturer and a contributor to "Punch." Mr. Browne lectured for the last time January 23, 1867. He died in Southampton, England, March 6, 1867. THURLOW WEED, a noted journalist and politician, was born in Cairo, New York, November 15, 1797. He learned the printer's trade at the age of twelve years, and worked at this calling for several years in various villages in central New York. He served as quartermaster-sergeant during the warof 1812. In 1818 he established the "Agriculturist," at Norwich, New York, and became editor of the "Anti-Masonic Enquirer," at Rochester, in 1826. In the same year he was elected to the legislature and re-elected in 1830, when he located in Albany, New York, and there' started the " Evening Journal," and conducted it in op- position to the Jackson administration and the nullification doctrines of Calhoun. He became an adroit party manager, and was instrumental in promoting the nominations of Harrison, Taylor and Scott for the pres- idency. In 1856 and in i860 he threw his support to W. H. Seward, but when defeat- ed in his object, he gave cordial support to 92 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAI'Hr. Fremont and Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln pre- vailed upon him to visit the various capitals of Europe, where he proved a valuable aid to the administration in moulding the opin- ions of the statesmen of that continent favorable to the cause of the Union. Mr. Weed's connection with the ' ' Even- ing Journal " was severed in 1862, when he settled in New York, and for a time edited the " Commercial Advertiser." In 1868 he retired from active life. His " Letters from Europe and the West Indies," published in 1866, together with some interesting " Rem- iniscences," published in the "Atlantic Monthly," in 1870, an autobiography, and portions of an extensive correspondence will be of great value to writers of the political history of the United States. Mr. Weed died in New York, November 22, 1882. WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY, one of the prominent Democratic politicians of the country and ex-secretary of the navy, was born July 5th, 1841, at Con- way, Massachusetts, and received his edu- cation at Williston Seminary, East Hamp- ton, Massachusetts. Later he attended Yale College, where he graduated in 1863, and entered the Harvard Law School, which he left in 1864. Beginning practice in New York city, he soon gained a reputation as an able lawyer. He made his first appear- ance in public affairs in 1871, when he was active in organizing a young men's Demo- cratic club. In 1872 he was the recognized leader of the county Democracy and in 1875 was appointed corporation counsel for the city of New York. He resigned the office, 1882, to attend to personal interests and on March 5, 1885, he was appointed secretary of the navy by President Cleveland. Under his administration the navy of the United States rapidly rose in rank among the navies of the world. When he retired from office in 1889, the vessels of the United States navy designed and contracted for by him were five double-turreted monitors, two new armor-ciads, the dynamite cruiser "Ve- suvius," and five unarmored steel and iron cruisers. Mr. Whitney was the leader of the Cleveland forces in the national Democratic convention of 1892. EDWIN FORREST, the first and great- est American tragedian, was born in Philadelphia in 1806. His father was a tradesman, and some accounts state that he had marked out a mercantile career for his son, Edwin, while others claim that he had intended him for the ministry. His wonder- ful memory, his powers of mimicry and his strong musical voice, however, attracted at- tention before he was eleven years old, and at that age he made his first appearance on the stage. The costume in which he appeared was so ridiculous that he left the stage in a fit of anger amid a roar of laughter from the audience. This did not discourage him, however, and at the age of fourteen, after some preliminary training in elocution, he appeared again, this time as Young Norvel, and gave indications of future greatness. Up to 1826 he played entirely with strolling companies through the south and west, but at that time he obtained an engagement at the Bowery Theater in New York. From that time his fortune was made. His man- ager paid him $40 per night, and it is stated that he loaned Forrest to other houses from time to time at $200 per night. His great successes were Virginius, Damon, Othello, Coriolanus, William Tell, Spartacus and Lear. He made his first appearance in London in 1836, and his success was un- questioned from the start. In 1S45, on h:s COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 93 second appearance in London, he became involved in a bitter rivalry with the great English actor, Macready, who had visited America two years before. The result was that Forrest was hissed from the stage, and it was charged that Macready had instigated the plot. Forrest's resentment was so bitter that he himself openly hissed Macready from his box a few nights later. In 1848 Macready again visited America at a time when American admiration and enthusiasm for Forrest had reached its height. Macready undertook to play at Astor Place Opera House in May, 1849, t>ut was hooted off the stage. A few nights later Macready made a second attempt to play at the same house, this time under police protection. The house was filled with Macready's friends, but the vio- olence of the mob outside stopped the play, and the actor barely escaped with his life. Upon reading the riot act the police and troops were assaulted with stones. The troops replied, first with blank cartridges, and then a volley of lead dispersed the mob, leaving thirty men dead or seriously wounded. After this incident Forrest's popularity waned, until in 1855 he retired from the stage. He re-appeared in i860, however, and probably the most remunerative period of his life was between that date and the close of the Civil war. His last appearance on the stage was at the Globe Theatre, Boston, in Richelieu, in April, 1872, his death occurring December 12 of that year. NOAH PORTER, D. D., LL. D., was one of the most noted educators, au- thors and scientific writers of the United States. He was born December 14, 181 1, at Farmington, Connecticut, grailuated at Yale College in 183 1, and was master of Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven in 1831-33. During 1833-35 he was a tutor at Yale, and at the same time was pursuing his theological studies, and became pastor of the Congregational church at New Mil- ford, Connecticut, in April, 1836. Dr. Porter removed to Springfield, Massachu- setts, in 1843, and was chosen professor of metaphysics and moral philosophy at Yale in 1846. He spent a year in Germany in the study of modern metaphysics in 1853— 54, and in 1871 he was elected president of Yale College. He resigned the presidency in 1885, but still remained professor of met- aphysics and moral philosophy. He was the author of a number of works, among which are the following: " Historical Es- say," written in commemorationof the 200th aniversary of the settlement of the town of Farmington; " Educational System of the Jesuits Compared;" "The Human Intel- lect," with an introduction upon psychology and the soul; " Books and Reading;" "American Colleges and the American Pub- lic;" " Elementsof Intellectual Philosophy;" " The Science of Nature versus the Science of Man;" " Science and Sentiment;" " Ele- ments of Moral Science." Dr. Porter was the principal editor of the revised edition of Webster's Dictionary in 1864, and con- tributed largely to religious reviews and periodicals. Dr. . Porter's death occurred March 4, 1892, at New Haven, Connecticut. JOHN TYLER, tenth president of the United States, was born in Charles City county, Virginia, March 29, 1790, and v/as the son of Judge John Tyler, one of the most distinguished men of his day. When but twelve years of age young John Tyler entered William and Mary Col- lege, graduating from there in 1806. He took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1809, when but nineteen years 94 COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRAPlir. of age. On attaining his majority in iSii he was elected a member of the state legis- lature, and for five years held that position by the almost unanimous vote of his county. He was elected to congress in 1816, and served in that body for four years, after which for two years he represented his dis- trict again in the legislature of the state. Whije in congress, he opposed the United States bank, the protective policy and in- ternal improvements by the United States government. 1825 saw Mr. Tyler governor of Virginia, but in 1827 he was chosen member of the United States senate, and held that office for nine years. He therein opposed the administration of Adams and the tariff bill of 1828, sympathized with the nuUif'ers of South Carolina and was the only senator who voted against the Force bill lor the suppression of that state's insip- ient rebellion. He resigned his position as senator on account of a disagreement with the legislature of his state in relation to his censuring President Jackson. He retired to Williamsburg, Virginia, but being regarded as a martyr by the Whigs, whom, hereto- fore, he had always opposed, was supported by many of that party for the vice-presi- dency in 1836. He sat in the Virginia leg- islature as a Whig in 1839-40, and was a delegate to the convention of that party in 18^9. This national convention nominated him for the second place on the ticket with General William H. H.' Harrison, and he was elected vice-president in November, 1840. President Harrison dying one month after his inauguration, he was succeeded by John Tyler. He retained the cabinet chosen by his predecessor, and for a time moved in harmony with the Whig party. He finally instructed the secretary of the treasury, Thomas Ewing, to submit to congress a bill for the incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States, which was passed by con- gress, but vetoed by the president on ac- count of some amendments he considered unconstitutional. For this and other meas- ures he was accused of treachery to his party, and deserted by his whole cabinet, except Daniel Webster. Things grew worse until he was abandoned by the Whig party formally, when Mr. Webster resigned. He was nominated at Baltimore, in May, 1844, at the Democratic convention, as their pres- idential candidate, but withdrew from the canvass, as he saw he had not succeed- ed in gaining the confidence of his old party. He then retired from politics until February, 1861, when he was made presi- dent of the abortive peace congress, which met in Washington. He shortly after re- nounced his allegiance to the United States and was elected a member of the Confeder- ate congress. He died at Richmond, Janu- ary 17, 1862. Mr. Tyler married, in 1813, Miss Letitia Christian, who died in 1842 at Washington. June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- riage, with Miss Julia Gardner, of New York. COLLIS POTTER HUNTINGTON, one of the great men of his time and who has left his impress upon the history of our national development, was born October 22, 1 82 1, at Harwinton, Connecticut. He received a common-school education and at the age of fourteen his spirit of get- ting along in the world mastered his educa- tional propensities and his father's objec- tions and he left school. He went to Cali- fornia in the early days and had opportunities which he handled masterfull}'. Others had the same opportunities but they did not have his brains nor his energy, and it was he who overcame obstacles and reaped the reward of his genius. Transcontinental raiKvavs COMPEXD/C'Af O/'- BIOGRAPHT. 95 were ine\-itable, but the realization of this masterful achievement would have been de- layed to a much later day if there had been no Huntington. He associated himself with Messrs. Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker, and they furnished the money necessary for a survey across the Sierra Nevadas, secured a charter for the road, and raised, with the government's aid, money enough to construct and equip that railway, which at the time of its completion was a marvel of engineering and one of the wonders of the world. Mr. Huntington be- came president of the Southern Pacific rail- road, vice-president of the Central Pacific; trustee of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company, and a director of the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company, besides being identified with many other business enterprises of vast importance. GEORGE A. CUSTER, a famous In- dian fighter, was born in Ohio in 1840. He graduated at West Point in 1861, an- served in the Civil war; was at Bull Run id 1861, and was in the Peninsular campaign, being one of General McClellan's aides-de, camp. He fought in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam in 1863, and was with General Stoneman on his famous cavalry raid. He was engaged in the battle of Gettysburg, and was tiiere made brevet- major. In 1863 was appointed brigadier- general of volunteers. General Custer was in many skirmishes in central Virginia in 1S63-64, and was present at the following battles of the Richmond campaign: Wil- derness, Todd's Tavern, Yellow Tavern, where he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel; Meadow Bridge, Haw's Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevil- lian Station. In the Shenandoah Valley 1 864-65 he was brevetted colonel at Opequan Creek, and at Cedar Creek he was made brevet major-general for gallant conduct during the engagement. General Custer was in command of a cavalry division in the pursuit of Lee's army in 1865, and fought at Dinwiddle Court House, Five Forks, where he was made brevet brigadier-general; Sailors Creek and Appomattox, where he gained additional honors and was made brevet major-general, and was given the command of the cavalry in the military division of the southwest and Gulf, in 1865. After the establishment of peace he went west on frontier duty and performed gallant and valuable service in the troubles with the Indians. He was killed in the massacre on the Little Big Horn river. South Dakota^ June 25, 1876. ANIEL WOLSEY VOORHEES, cel- brated as " The Tall Sycamore of the Wabash," was born September 26, 1827, in Butler county, Ohio. When he was two months old his parents removed to Fount- ain county, Indiana. He grew to manhood on a farm, engaged in all the arduous work pertaining to rural life. In 1845 he entered the Indiana Asbury University, now the De Pauw, from which he graduated in 1849. He took up the study of law at Crawfords- .ville, and in 1851 began the practice of his profession at Covington, Fountain county, Indiana. He became a law partner of United States Senator Hannegan, of Indi- ana, in 1852, and in 1856 he was an unsuc- cessful candidate for congress. In the fol- lowing year he took up his residence in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was United States district attorney for Indiana from 1857 until 1 86 1, and he had during this period been elected to congress, in i 860. Mr. Voorhees was re-elected to congress in i862artfl 1864, but he was unsuccessful in the election of 1866. However, he was returned to con- 96 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPTIT. gress in 1868, where he remained until 1874, having been re-elected twice. In 1877 he was appointed United States senator from Indiana to fill a vacancy caused by the death of O. P. Morton, and at the end of the term was elected for the ensuing term, being re- elected in 1885 and in 1891 to the same of- fice. He served with distinction on many of the committees, and took a very prom- inent part in' the discussion of all the im- portant legislation of his time. His death occurred in August, 189 . ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, fa- mous as one of the inventors of the tele- phone, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 3rd, 1847. He received his early education in the high school and later he attended the university, and was specially trained to follow his grandfather's profes- sion, that of removing impediments of speech. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, and introduced into this country his father's invention of visible speech in the institutions for deaf-mutes. Later he was appointed professor of vocal physiology in the Boston University. He worked for many years during his leisure hours on his telephonic discovery, and finally perfected it and exhibited it publicly, before it had reached the high state of perfection to which he brought it. His first exhibition of it was at the Centennial E.xhibition that was held in Philadelphia in 1876. Its success is now established throughout the civilized world. In 1882 Prof. Bell received a diploma and the decoration of the Legion of Honor from the Academy of Sciences of France. WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT, the justly celebrated historian and author, was a native of Salem, Massachu- setts, and was born May 4, 1796. He was the son of Judge William Prescott and the grandson of the hero of Bunker Hill, Colonel William Prescott. Our subject in 1808 removed with the family to Boston, in the schools of which city he received his early education. He entered Harvard College as a sophomore in 181 1, having been prepared at the private classical college of Rev. Dr. J. S. J. Gardi- jner. The following year he received an in- iiry in his left eye which made study through life a matter of difficulty. He graduated in i8i4with high honors in the classics and belle lettres. He spent several months on the Azores Islands, and later visited England, France and Italy, return- ing home in 18 17. In June, 1818, he founded a social and literary club at Boston for which he edited "The Club Room," a periodical doomed to but a short life. May 4, 1820, he married Miss Susan Amory. He devoted several years after that event to a thorough study of ancient and modern history and literature. As the fruits of his labors he published several well written essays upon French and Italian poetry and romance in the " North American Review." January 19, 1826, he decided to take up his first great historical work, the ' ' History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella." To this he gave the labor of ten years, publish- ing the same December 25, 1837. Although placed at the head of all American authors, so diffident was Prescott of his literary merit that although he had four copies of this work printed for his own convenience, he hesitated a long time before giving it to the public, and it was only by the solicitation of friends, especially of thai; talented Spanish scholar, George Ticknor, that he was in- duced to do so. Soon the volumes were translated into French, Italian, Dutch and German, and the work was recognized COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. 97 throughout the world as one of the most meritorious of historical compositions. In 1843 I12 published the "Conquest of Mexi- co," and in 1847 the "Conquest of Peru." Two years later there came from his pen a volume of ' ' Biographical and Critical Mis- cellanies." Going abroad in the summer of 1850, he was received with great distinction in the literary circles of London, Edinburgh, Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Oxford Uni- versity conferred the degree of D. C. L. upon him. In 1855 he issued two volumes of his "History of the Reign of Philip the Second," and a third in 1858. In the meantime he edited Robertson's "Charles the Fifth," adding a history of the life of that monarch after his abdication. Death cut short his work on the remaining volumes of " Philip the Second," coming to him at Boston, Massachusetts, May 28, 1859. OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, a noted American commodore, was born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, August 23, 1785. He saw his first service as a mid- shipman in the United States navy in April, 1799. He cruised with his father. Captain Christopher Raymond Perry, in the West In- dies for about two years. In 1804 he was in the war against Tripoli, and was made lieutenant in 1807. At the opening of hostili- ties with Great Britain in 18 12 he was given command of a fleet of gunboats on the At- lantic coast. At his request he was trans- ferred, a year later, to Lake Ontario, where he served under Commodore Chauncey, and took an active part in the attack on Fort George. He was ordered to fit out a squad- ron on Lake Erie, which he did, building most of his vessels from the forests along the shore, and by the summer of 181 3 he had a fleet of nine vessels at Presque Isle, now Erie, Pennsylvania September loth he attacked and captured the British fleet near Put-in-Bay, thus clearing the lake of hostile ships. His famous dispatch is part of his fame, " We have met the enemy, and they are ours." He co-operated with Gen. Har- rison, and the success of the campaign in the northwest was largely due to his victory. The next year he was transferred to the Po- tomac, and assisted in the defense of Balti- more. After the war he was in constant service with the various squadrons in cruising in all parts of the world. He died of yellow fever on the Island of Trinidad, August 23, 1 8 19. His remains were conveyed to New- port, and buried there, and an imposing obelisk was erected to his memory by the State of Rhode Island. A bronze statue was also erected in his honor, the unveiling taking place in 1885. JOHN PAUL JONES, though a native of Scotland, was one of America's most noted fighters during the Revolutionary war. He was born July 6, 1747. His father was a gardener, but the young man soon be- came interested in a seafaring life and at the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a sea captain engaged in the American trade. His first voyage landed him in Virginia, where he had a brother who had settled there several years prior. The failure of the captain released young Jones from his apprenticeship bonds, and he was engaged as third mate of a vessel engaged in the slave trade. He abandoned this trade after a few years, from his own sense of disgrace. He took passage from Jamaica for Scotland in 1768, and on the voyage both the captain and the mate died and he was compelled to take command of the vessel for the re- mainder of the voyage. He soon after became master of the vessel. He returned to Virginia about 1 773 to settle up the estate COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. of his brother, and at this time added the name "Jones," having previously been known as John Paul. He settled down in Virginia, but when the war broke out in 1775 he offered his services to congress and was appointed senior lieutenant of the flag- ship "Alfred," on which he hoisted the American flag with his own hands, the first vessel that had ever carried a flag of the new nation. He was afterward appointed to the command of the "Alfred," and later of the "Providence," in each of which ves- sels he did good service, as also in the "Ranger," to the command of which he was later appointed. The fight that made him famous, however, was that in which he captured the ~" Serapis, " off the coast of Scotland. He was then in command of the "Bon Homme Richard," which had been fitted out for him by the French government and named by Jones in honor of Benjamin Franklin, or "Good Man Richard," Frank- lin being author of the publication known as " Poor Richard's Almanac." The fight between the " Richard" and the "Serapis" lasted three hours, all of which time the vessels were at close range, and most of the time in actual contact. Jones' vessel was on fire several times, and early in the en- gagement two of his guns bursted, rendering the battery useless. Also an envious officer of the Alliance, one of Jones' own fleet, opened fire upon the " Richard " at a crit- ical time, completely disabling the vessel. Jones continued the fight, in spite of coun- sels to surrender, and after dark the " Ser- apis " struck her colors, and was hastily boarded by Jones and his crew, while the "Richard" sank, bows first, after the wounded had been taken on board the "Serapis." Most of the other vessels of the fleet of which the " Serapis" was con- voy, surrendered, and were taken with the "Serapis" to France, where Jones was received with greatest honors, and the king presented him with an elegant sword and the cross of the Order of Military Merit. Congress gave him a vote of thanks and made him commander of a new ship, the "America," but the vessel was afterward given to France and Jones never saw active sea service again. He came to America again, in 1787, after the close of the war, and was voted a gold medal by congress. He went to Russia and was appointed rear-admiral and rendered service of value against the Turks, but on account of personal-enmity of the fav- orites of the emperor he was retired on a pen- sion. Failing to collect this, he returned to France, where he died, July 18, 1792. THOMAS MORAN, the well-known painter of Rocky Mountain scenery, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1837. He came to America when a child, and showing artistic tastes, he was apprenticed to a wood engraver in Philadelphia. Three years later he began landscape painting, and his style soon began to exhibit signs of genius. His first works were water-colors, and though without an instructor he began the use of oils, he soon found it necessary to visit Europe, where he gave particular at- tention to the works of Turner. He joined the Yellowstone Park exploring expedition and visited the Rocky Mountains in 1871 and again in 1873, making numerous sketches of the scenery. The most note- worthy results were his "Grand Canon of the Yellowstone," and " The Chasm of the Colorado," -which were purchased by con- gress at $10,000 each, the first of which is undoubtedly the finest landscape painting produced in this country. Mr. Moran has subordinated art to nature, and the subjects- he has chosen leave little ground for fau!t ««!<»■ nX\ ,-Xy\ ) * ^ ^ G EQ. W. C H I LPS h^ ^ ,/ > ^ JAY CCULP W I/V/T^^^ I tfQ. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPJir. 101 finding on that account. "The Mountain of the Holy Cross," "The Groves Were God's First Temples," " The Cliffs of Green River," " The Children of the Mountain," "The Ripening of the Leaf," and others have given him additional fame, and while they do not equal in grandeur the first mentioned, in many respects from an artis- tic standpoint they are superior. L ELAND STANFORD was one of the greatest men of the Pacific coast and also had a national reputation. He was born March 9, 1824, in Albany county. New York, and passed his early life on his father's farm. He attended the local schools of the county and at the age of twenty began the study of law. He entered the law office of Wheaton, Doolittle and Hadley, at Albany, in 1845, and a few years later he moved to Port Washington, Wisconsin, where he practiced law four years with moderate success. In 1S52 Mr. Stanford determined to push further west, and, accordingly went to California, where three of his brothers were established in business in the mining towns. They took Leland into partnership, giving him charge of a branch store at Michigan Bluff, in Placer county. There he developed great business ability and four years later started a mercantile house of his own in San Fran- cisco, which soon became one of the most substantial houses on the coast. On the formation of the Republican party he inter- ested himself in politics, and in i860 was sent as a delegate to the convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln. In the autumn of 1861 he was elected, by an im- mense majority, governor of California. Prior to his election as governor he had been chosen president of the newly-orga- nized Central Pacific Railroad Company, and after leaving the executive chair he de- voted all of his time to the construction of the Pacific end of the transcontinental rail- way. May 10, 1869, Mr. Stanford drove the last spike of the Central Pacific road, thus completing the route across the conti- nent. He was also president of the Occi- dental and Oriental Steamship Company. He had but one son, who died of typhoid fever, and as a monument to his child he founded the university which bears his son's name, Leland Stanford, Junior, University. Mr. Stanford gave to this university eighty- three thousand acres of land, the estimated value of which is $8,000,000, and the entire endowment is $20,000,000. In 1885 Mr. Stanford was elected United States senator as a Republican, to succeed J. T. Farley, a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1 891. His death occurred June 20, 1894, at Palo Alto, California. STEPHEN DECATUR, a famous com- modore in the United States navy, was born in Maryland in 1779. He entered the naval service in 1798. In 1804, when the American vessel Philadelphia had been run aground and captured in the harbor of Trip- oli, Decatur, at the head of a few men, boarded her and burned her in the face of the guns from the city defenses. For this daring deed he was made captain. He was given command of the frigate United States at the breaking out of the war of 18 12, and in October of that year he captured the British frigate Macedonian, and was re- warded with a gold medal by congress. Af- ter the close of the war he was sent as com- mander of a fleet of ten vessels to chastise the dey of Algiers, who was preying upon American commerce with impunity and de- manding tribute and ransom for the release of American citizens captured. Decatur 102 COMPENDIi'M OF L'/OGRAPHl'. captured a number of Algerian vessels, and compelled the dey to sue for peace. He was noted for his daring and intrepidity, and his coolness in the face of danger, and helped to bring the United States navy into favor with the people and congress as a means of defense and offense in time of war. He was killed in a duel by Commo- dore Barron, March 12, 1820. JAMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh president of the United States, 1845 to 1849, was born November 2, 1795, in Meck- lenburg county, North Carolina, and was the eldest child of a family of six sons. He removed with his father to the Valley of the Duck River, in Tennessee, in 1806. He attended the common schools and became very proficient in the lower branches of education, and supplemented this with a course in the Murfreesboro Academy, which he entered in 18 13 andin the autumn of 1815 he became a student in the sopho- more class of the University of North Caro- lina, at Chapel Hill, and was graduated in 181 8. He then spent a short time in re- cuperating his health and then proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, where he took up the study of law in the office of Felix Grundy. After the completion of his law studies he was admitted to the bar and removed to Columbia, Maury county, Tennessee, and started in the active practice of his profes- sion. Mr. Polk was a Jeffersonian "Re- publican " and in 1823 he was elected to the legislature of Tennessee. He was a strict constructionist and did not believe that the general government had the power to carry on internal improvements in the states, but deemed it important that it should have that power, and wanted the constitution amended to that effect. But later on he became alarmed lest the general government might become strong enough to abolish slavery and therefore gave his whole support to the " State's Rights" movement, and endeavored to check the centralization of power in the general government. Mr. Polk was chosen a member of congress in 1825, and held that office until 1839. He then withdrew, as he was the successful gubernatorial candidate of his state. He had become a man of great influence in the house, and, as the leader of the Jackson party in that body, weilded great influence in the election of General Jackson to the presidency. He sustained the president in all his measures and still remained in the house after Gen- eral Jackson had been succeeded by Martin Van Buren. He was- speaker of the house during five sessions of congress. He was elected governor of Tennessee by a large majority and took the oath of office at Nash- ville, October 4, 1839. He was a candidate for re-election but was defeated by Governor Jones, the Whig candidate, fn 1844 the most prominent question in the election was the annexation of Texas, and as Mr. Polk was the avowed champion of this cause he was nominated for president by the pro- slavery wing of the democratic party, was elected by a large majority, and was inaug- urated March 4, 1845. President Polk formed a very able cabinet, consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. Walker, Will- iam L. Marcy, George Bancroft, Cave John- son, and John Y. Mason. The dispute re- garding the Oregon boundary was settled during his term of office and a new depart- ment was added to the list of cabinet po- sitions, that of the Interior. The low tariff bill of 1846 was carried and the financial system of the country was reorganized. It was also during President Polk's term that the Mexican war was successfully conducted, which resulted in the acquisition of Califor- COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. 103 nia and New Mexico. Mr. Polk retired from the presidency March 4, 1849, after having declined a re-nomination, and v.'as succeeded by General Zachary Taylor, the hero of the Mexican war. Mr. Polk retired to private life, to his home in Nashville, where he died £t the age of fifty-four on June 9, 1849. NNA DICKINSON (Anna Elizabeth Dickinson), a noted lecturer and pub- lic speaker, was born at Philadelphia, Oc- tober 28, 1S42. Her parents were Quakers, and she was educated at the Friends' free scb.ools in her native city. She earl}' man- ifested an inclination toward elocution and public speaking, and when, at the age of 18, she found an opportunity to appear before a national assemblage for the discussion of woman's rights, she at once established her reputation as a public speaker. From i860 to the close of the war and during the ex- citing period of reconstruction, she was one of the most noted and influential speakers before the American public, and her popu- larity was unequaled by that of any of her sex. A few weeks after the defeat and death of Colonel Baker at Ball's Bluff, Anna Dickinson, lecturing in New York, made the remarkable assertion, " Not the incom- petency of Colonel Baker, but the treachery of General McClellaii caused the disaster at Ball's B!ui?." She was hissed and hooted off the stage. A year later, at the same hall and with much the same class of audi- tors, she repeated the identical words, and the applause was so great and so long con- tinued that it was impossible to go on with her lecture for more than half an hour. The change of sentiment had been wrought by the reverses and dismissal of McClellan and his ambition to succeed Mr. Lincoln as presi- dent. Ten years after the close of the war, Anna Dickinson was not heard of on the lec- ture platform, and about that time she made an attempt to enter the dramatic profession, but after appearing a number of times in dif- ferent plays she was pronounced a failure. ROBERT J. BURDETTE.— Some per- sonal characteristics of Mr. Burdette were quaintly given by himself in the follow- ing words: "Politics.' Republican after the strictest sect. Religion .■* Baptist. Per- sonal appearance 1 Below medium height, and weigh one hundred and thirty- five pounds, no shillings and no pence. Rich ">. Not enough to own a yacht. Favorite read- ing.' Poetry and history — know Longfellow by heart, almost. Write for magizines } Have mo.-e ' declined with thanks ' letters than would fill a trunk. Never able to get into a magazine with a line. Care about it.' Mad as thunder. Think about starting a magazine and rejecting everbody's articles except my own." Mr. Burdette was born at Greensborough, Pennsylvania, in 1844. He served through the war of the rebellion under General Banks " on an excursion ticket " as he felicitously described it, ' 'good both ways, conquering in one direction and running in the other, pay going on just the same." He entered into journalism by the gateway of New York correspondence for the "Peoria Transcript," and in 1874 went on the "Burlington Hawkeye " of which he became the managing editor, and the work that he did on this paper made both him- self and the paper famous in the world of humor. Mr. Burdette married in 1870, and his wife, whom he called " Her Little Serene Highness," was to him a guiding light until the day of her death, and it was probably the unconscious pathos with which he described her in his work that broke the barriers that had kept him out of the maga- KM COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. zines and secured him the acceptance of his "Confessions" by Lippincott some years ago, and brought him substantial fame and recognition in the literary world. WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS, one of the leading novelists of the present century and author of a number of works that gained for him a place in the hearts of the people, was born March i, 1837, at Martinsville, Belmont county, Ohio. At the age of three years he accompanied his father, who was a printer, to Hamilton, Ohio, where he learned the printer's trade. Later he was engaged on the editorial staff of the ' ' Cincinnati Gazette " and the " Ohio State Journal." During 1861-65 he was the United States consul at Venice, and from 1 87 1 to 1878 he was the editor-in- chief of the "Atlantic Monthly." As a writer he became one of the most fertile and readable of authors and a pleasing poet. In 1S85 he became connected with " Har- per's Magazine. " Mr. Howells was author of the list of books that we give below: "Venetian Life," " Italian Journeys," "No Love Lost," " Suburban Sketches," "Their Wedding Journey," "A Chance Acquaint- ance," "A Foregone Conclusion," "Dr. Breen's Practice," "A Modern Instance," "The Rise of Silas Lapham," "Tuscan Cities," "Indian Summer," besides many others. He also wrote the " Poem of Two Friends," with J. J. Piatt in i860, and some minor dramas: "The Drawing Room Car," "The Sleeping Car," etc., that are full of exqusite humor and elegant dialogue. j AMES RUSSELL LOWELL was a son kJ of the Rev. Charles Lowell, and was born ;it Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 22, 1 319. He graduated at Harvard College in 183S as class poet, and went to Harsard Law School, from which he was graduated in 1840, and commenced the practice of his profession in Boston, but soon gave his un- divided attention to literary labors. Mr. Lowell printed, in 1841, a small volume of poems entitled " A Year's Life," edited with Robert Carter; in 1843, " The Pioneer, " a literary and critical magazine (monthly), and in 1848 another book of poems, that con- tained several directed against slavery. He published in 1844 a volume of "Poems" and in 1845 " Conversations on Some of the Old Poets," "The Vision of Sir Launfal," " A Fable for Critics, " and "The Bigelow Papers," the latter satirical es- says in dialect poetry directed against slavery and the war with Mexico. In 1851-52 he traveled in Europe and re- sided in Italy for a considerable time, and delivered in 1854-55 a course of lectures on the British poets, before the Lowell Insti- tute, Boston. Mr. Lowell succeeded Long- fellow in January, 1855, as professor of modern languages and literature at Harvard College, and spent another year in Euiope qualifying himself for that post. He edited the " Atlantic Monthly " from 1857 to 1862, and the "North American Review" from 1863 until 1872. From 1864 to 1870 he published the following works: "Fireside Travels," "Under the Willows," "The Commemoration Ode," in honor of the alumni of Harvard who had fallen in the Civil war; "The Cathedral," two volumes of essays; "Among My Books" and "My Study Windows," and in 1867 he published a new series of the " Bigelow Papers. " He traveled extensively in Europe in 1872-74, and received in person the degree of D. C. L. at Oxford and that of LL. D. at the University of Cambridge, England. He was also interested in political life and held COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 105 many important offices. He was United States minister to Spain in 1S77 and was also minister to England in 1880-85. On January 2, 1884, he was elected lord rector of St. Andrew University in Glasgow, Scot- land, but soon after he resigned the same. Mr. Lowell's works enjoy great popularity in the United States and England. He died August 12, 1891. JOSEPH HENRY, one of America's greatest scientists, was born at Albany, New York, December 17, 1797. He was educated in the common schools' of the city and graduated from the Albany Academy, where he became a professor of mathemat- ics in 1826. In 1827 he commenced a course of investigation, which he continued for a number of years, and the results pro- duced had great effect on the scientific world. The first success was achieved by producing the electric magnet, and he next proved the possibility of exciting magnetic energy at a distance, and it was the invention of Pro- fessor Henry's intensity magnet that first made the invention of electric telegraph a possibility. He made a statement regarding the practicability of applying the intensity magnet to telegraphic uses, in his article to the ' 'American Journal of Science " in 1 83 1 . During the same year he produced the first mechanical contrivance ever invented for maintaining continuous motion by means of electro-magnetism, and he also contrived a machine by which signals could be made at a distance by the use of his electro-magnet, the signals being produced by a lever strik- ing on a bell. Some of his electro-magnets were of great power, one carried over a ton and another not less than three thousand six hundred pounds. In 1832 he discovered that secondary currents could be produced ■;'! a long conductor by the induction of the primary current upon itself, and also in the same year he produced a spark by means of a purely magnetic induction. Professor Henry was elected, in 1832, professor of nat- ural philosophy in the College of New Jer- sey, and in his earliest lectures at Princeton, demonstrated the feasibility of the electric telegraph. He visited Europe in 1837, and while there he had an interview with Pro- fessor Wheatstone, the inventor of the needle magnetic telegraph. In 1846 he was elected secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- tution, being the firstincumbent in that office, which he held until his death. Professor Henry was elected president of the Ameri- can Association for the Advancement of Science, in 1849, and of the National Academy of Sciences. He was made chair- man of the lighthouse board of the United States in 1871 and held that position up to the time of his death. He received the honorary degree of doctor of laws from Union College in 1829, and from Harvard University in 185 i, and his death occurred May 13, 1878. Among his numerous works may be mentioned the following: "Contri- butions to Electricity and Magnetism," " American Philosophic Trans," and many articles in the "American Journal of Science," the journal of the Franklin Insti- tute; the proceedings of the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science, and in the annual reports of the Smith- sonian Institution from its foundation. FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, the famous rear-admiral of the Confederate navy during the rebellion, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He became a United States midshipman in 1S15 and was promoted through the various grades of the service and became a captain in 1855. Mr. Buch- anan resigned his captaincy in order to join 106 COMPEXDJC.\f OF BIOGRAPHr the Confederate service in iS6i and later he asked to be reinstated, but his request was refused and he then entered into the service of the Confederate government. He was placed in command of the frigate " Merri- niac " after she had been fitted up as an iron- clad, and had command of her at the time of the battle of Hampton Roads. It was he who had command when the " Merri- mac " sunk the two wooden frigates, " Con- gress " and "Cumberland," and was also in command during part of the historical battle of the " Merrimac " and the "Moni- tor," where he was wounded and the com- mand devolved upon Lieutenant Catesby Jones. He was created rear-admiral in the Confederate service and commanded the Confederate fleet in Mobile bay, which was defeated by Admiral Farragut, August 5, 1864. Mr. Buchanan was in command of the "Tennessee," an ironclad, and during the engagement he lost one of his legs and was taken prisoner in the end by the Union fleet. After the war he settled in Talbot county, Maryland, where he died May 11, 1874- RICHARD PARKS BLAND, a celebrated American statesman, frequently called "the father of the house," because of his many years of service in the lower house of congress, was born August 19, 1835, near Hartford, Kentucky, where he received a plain academic education. He moved, in 1855, to Missouri, from whence he went overland to California, afterward locating in Virginia City, now in the state of Nevada, but then part of the territory of Utah. While there he practiced law, dabbled in mines and mining in Nevada and California for several years, and served for a time as treasurer of Carson county, Nevada. Mr. Bland returned to Missouri in 1865, where he engaged in the practice ot law at Rolla, Missouri, and in 1869 removed to Lebanon, Missourr. He began his congressional career in 1873, when he was elected as a Demo- crat to the forty-third congress, and he was regularly re-elep ted to every congress after that time up to the fifty-fourth, when he was defeated for re-election, but was returned to the fifty-fifth congress as a Silver Demo- crat. During all his protracted service, while Mr. Bland was always steadfast in his support of democratic measures, yet he won his special renown as the great advocate of silver, being strongly in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, and on ac- count of his pronounced views was one of the candidates for the presidential nomina- tion of the Democratic party at Chicago in FANNY DAVENPORT (F. L. G. Daven- port) was of British birth, but she be- longs to the American stage. She was the daughter of the famous actor, E. L. Daven- port, and was born in London in 1850. She first went on the stage as a child at the Howard Athenaaim, Boston, and her entire life was spent upon tlie stage. She played children's parts at Burton's old theater iu Chambers street, and then, in 1862, appeared as the King of Spain in " Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady. " Here she attracted the notice of Augustin Daly, the noted mana- ger, then at the Fifth Avenue theater, who offered her a six weeks' engagement with her father in "London Assurance." She afterwards appeared at the same house in a variety of characters, and her versatility was favorably noticed by the critics. After the burning of the old Fifth Avenue, the present theater of that name was built at Twenty-eighth street, and here Miss Daven- port appeared in a play written for her by COMPEXnU'M Ol- IUOC,RM'/fr 107 Mr. Daly. She scored a great success. She then starred in this play throughout the countr}', and was married to Mr. Edwin F. Price, sn actor of her company, in 1880. In 1882 she went to Paris and purchased the right to produce in America Sardou's great emotional play, "Fedora." It was put on at the Fourteenth Street theater in New York, and in it she won popular favor and became one of the most famous actresses of her time. HORACE BRIGHAM CLAFLIN, one of the greatest merchants America has produced, was born in Milford, Massachu- setts, a son of John Claflin, also a mer- chant. Young Claflin started his active life as a clerk in his father s store, after having been offered the opportunity of a college education, but with the characteristic promptness that was one of his virtues he exclaimed, "No law or medicine for me." He had set his heart on being a merchant, and when his father retired he and his brother Aaron, and his brother-in-law, Sam- uel Daniels, conducted the business. Mr. Claflin was not content, however, to run a store in a town like Milford, and accordingly opened a dry goods store at Worcester, with his brother as a partner, but the partnership was dissolved a year later and H. B. Claflin assumed complete control. The business in Worcester had been conducted on ortho- dox principles, and when Mr. Claflin came there and introduced advertising as a means of drawing trade, he created considerable animosity among the older merchants. Ten years later he was one of the most prosper- ous merchants. He disposed of his busi- ness in Worcester for $30,000, and went to New York to search for a wider field than that of a shopkeeper. Mr. Claflin and William M. Bulkley started in the dry goods business there under the firm name of Bulk- ley & Claflin, in 1843, and Mr. Bulkley was connected with the firm until 185 i, when he retired. A new firm was then formed under the name of Claflin, Mellin & Co. This firm succeeded in founding the largest dry goods house in the world, and after weather- ing the dangers of the civil war, during which the house came very near going un- der, and was saved only by the superior business abilities of Mr. Claflin, continued to grow. The sales of the firui amounted to over $72,000,000 a year after the close of the war. Mr. Claflin died November 14,, 18S5. CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN (Charlotte Saunders Cushman), one of the most celebrated American actresses, was born in Boston, July 23, 1816. She was descended from one of the earliest Puritan families. ^ Her first attempt at stage work was at the age of fourteen years in a charitable concert given by amateurs in Boston. From this time her advance to the first place on the- American lyric stage was steady, until, in 1835, while singing in New Orleans, she suddenly lost control of her voice so far as relates to singing, and was compelled to re- tire. She then took up the study for the dramatic stage under the direction of Mr. Barton, the tragedian. She soon after made her debut as " Lady Macbeth." She appeared in New York in September, 1836, and fier success was immediate. Her "Romeo" was almost perfect, and she is the only woman that has ever appeared in the part of " Cardinal Wolsey." She at different times acted as support of Forrest and Macready. Her London engagement, secured in 1845, after many and great dis- couragements, proved an unqualified suc- cess. 108 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAl'HV. Her farewell appearance was at Booth's theater, New York, November 7, 1874, in the part of " Lady Macbeth," and after that performance an Ode by R. H. Stoddard was read, and a body of citizens went upon the stage, and in their name the venerable poet Longfellow presented her with a wreath of laurel with an inscription to the effect that "she who merits the palm should bear it." From the time of her appearance as a modest girl in a charitable entertainment down to the time of final triumph as a tragic queen, she bore herself with as much honor to womanhood as to the profession she rep- resented. Her death occurred in Boston, February iS, 1S76. By her profession she acquired a fortune of $600,000. NEAL DOW, one of the most prominent temperance reformers our country has known, was born in Portland, Me., March 20, 1804. Pie received his education in the Friends Seminary, at New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, his parents being members of that sect. After leaving school he pursued a mecrantile and manufacturing career for a number of years. He was active in the affairs of his native city, and in 1839 be- came chief of the fire department, and in 1 85 1 was elected mayor. He was re-elected to the latter offtce in 1854. Being opposed to the liquor traffic he was a champion of the project of prohibition, first brought for- ward in 1839 by James Appleton. While serving his first term as mayor he drafted a bill for the "suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops," which he took to the legislature and which was passed without an alteration. In 1858 Mr. Dow was elected to the legislature. On the outbreak of the Civil war he was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth Maine Infantry and accompanied General Butler's expedition to New Orleans. In 1862 he was made brigadier-general. At the battle of Port Hudson May 27, 1863, he was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He was confined at Libby prison and Mobile nearly a year, when, being exchanged, he resigned, his health having given way under the rigors of his captivity. He made sev- eral trips to England in the interests of temperance organization, where he addressed large audiences. He was the candidate of the National Prohibition party for the presi- dency in 1880, receiving about ten thousand votes. In 1884 he was largely instrumental in the amendment of the constitution of Maine, adopted by an overwhelming popular vote, which forever forbade the manufacture or sale of any intoxicating beverages, and commanding the legislature to enforce the prohibition. He died October 2, 1897. ZACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth president of the United States, was born in Orange county, Virginia, September 24, 1784. His boyhood was spent on his fath- er's plantation and his education was lim- ited. In 1808 he was made lieutenant of the Seventh Infantry, and joined his regi- ment at New Orleans. He was promoted to captain in 18 10, and commanded at Fort Harrison, near the present site of Terra Haute, in 18 12, where, for his gallant de- fense, he was brevetted major, attaining full rank in 18 14. In 1815 he retired to an es- tate near Louisville. In 18 16 here-entered the army as major, and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and then to colonel. Having for many years been Indian agent over a large portion of the western country, he was often required in Washington to give advice and cou.isel in matters connected with the Indian b ireau. He served through the Black Hawk Indian war of 1832, and in 1837 was ordered to the command of the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 109 army in Florida, where he attacked the In- dians in the swamps and brale remained until 1823, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 113 After a year spent in England as envoy ex- traordinary, he took up his residence in New York, and from that time held no public office. In 1830 he was chosen president of the council of the University of New York. He was, in 1831, made president of the National bank, which position he resigned in 1839. He died August 12, 1849. M' ILLARD FILLMORE, the thirteenth president of the United States, was born of New England parentage in Summer Hill, Cayuga county. New York, January 7, 1800. His school education was very lim- ited, but he occupied his leisure hours in study. He worked in youth upon his fa- ther's farm in his native county, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a wool carder and cloth dresser. Four years later he was induced by Judge Wood to enter his office at Montviile, New York, and take up the study of law. This warm friend, find- ing young Fillmore destitute of means, loaned him money, but the latter, not wish- ing to incur a heavy debt, taught school during part of the time and in this and other ways helped maintain himself. In 1822 he removed to Buffalo, New York, and the year following, being admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of Ws profession at East Aurora, in the same state. Here he remained until 1830, having, in the meantime, been admitted to practice in the supreme court, when he returned to Buffalo, where he became the partner of S. G. Haven and N. K. Hall. He entered poli- tics and served in the state legislature from 1829 to 1832. He was in congress in 1833- 35 and in 1837-41, where he proved an active and useful member, favoring the views of John Quincy Adams, then battling almost alone the slave-holding party in na- tional politics, and in most 01 pnblif q;ie=;- tions acted with the Whig party. While chairman of the committee of ways and means he took a leading part in draughting the tariff bill of 1842. In 1844 Mr. Fill- more was the Whig candidate for governor of New York. In 1847 he was chosen comptroller of the state, and abandoning his practice and profession removed to Al- bany. In 1848 he was elected vice presi- dent on the ticket with General Zachary Taylor, and they were inaugurated the fol- lowing March. On the death of the presi- dent, July 9, 1850, Mr. Fillmore was in- ducted into that office. The great events of his administration were the passage of the famous compromise acts of 1850, and the sending out of the Japan expedition of 1852. March 4, 1853, having served one term. President Fillmore retired from office, and in 1855 went to Europe, where he received marked attention. On returning home, in 1856, he was nominated for the presidency by the Native American or "Know-Noth- ing" party, but was defeated, James Buch- anan being the successful candidate. Mr. Fillmore ever afterward lived in re- tirement. During the conflict of Civil war he was mostly silent. It was generally sup- posed, however, that his sympathy was with the southern confederacy. He kept aloof from the conflict without any words of cheer to the one party or the other. For this rea- son he was forgotten by both. He died of paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 1874- PETER F. ROTHERMEL, one of Amer- ica's greatest and best-known historical painters, was born in Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania, July 8, 1817, and was of German ancestry. He received his earlier education in his native county, and in Philadelphia 114 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. learned the profession of land surveying. But a strong bias toward art drew him away and he soon opened a studio where he did portrait painting. This soon gave place to historical painting, he having discovered the bent of his genius in that direction. Be- sides the two pictures in the Capitol at Washington — ' 'De Soto Discovering the Mis- sissippi" and "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" — Rothermel painted many others, chief among which are: "Columbus Before Queen Isabella," "Martyrs of the Colosseum," "Cromwell Breaking Up Service in an English Church, " and the famous picture of the "Battle of Gettysburg." The last named was painted for the state of Pennsylvania, for which Rothermel received the sum of $25,- 000, and which it took him four years to plan and to paint. It represents the portion of that historic field held by the First corps, an exclusively Pennsylvania body of men, and was selected by Rothermel for that reason. For many years most of his time was spent in Italy, only returning for short periods. He died at Philadelphia, August 16, 1895. EDMUND KIRBY SMITH, one of the distinguished leaders upon the side of the south in the late Civil war, was born at St. Augustine, Florida, in 1824. After receiv- ing the usual education he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1845 and entered the army as second lieutenant of infantry. During the Mexican war he was made first lieutenant and captain for gallant conduct at Cerro Gordo and Contreras. From 1849 to 1852 he was assistant pro- fessor of mathematics at West Point. He was transferred to the Second cavalry with the rank of captain in 1855, served on the frontier, and was wounded in a fight with Comanche Indians in Texas, May 13, 1859. In January, 1861, he became major of his regiment, but resigned April 9th to fol- low the fortunes of the southern cause. He was appointed brigadier-general in the Confederate army and served in Virginia. At the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, he arrived on the field late in the day, but was soon disabled by a wound. He was made major-general in 1862, and being trans- ferred to East Tennessee, was given com- mand of that department. Under General Braxton Bragg he led the advance in the invasion of Kentucky and defeated the Union forces at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 1862, and advanced to Frankfort. Pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, he was engaged at the battle of Perryville, October 10, and in the battle of Murfrees- boro, December 31, 1862, and January 3, 1863. He was soon made general, the highest rank in the service, and in com- mand of the trans-Mississippi department opposed General N. P. Banks in the famous Red River expedition, taking part in the battle of Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864, and other engagements of that eventful cam- paign. He was the last to surrender the forces under his command, which he did May 26, 1865. After the close of the war he located in Tennessee, where he died March 28, 1893. JOHN JAMES INGALLS, a famous American statesman, was born Decem- ber 29, 1833, at Middleton, Massachusetts, where he was reared and received his early education. He went to Kansas in 1858 and joined the free-soil army, and a year after his arrival he was a member of the his- torical Wyandotte convention, which drafted a free-state constitution. In i860 he was COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 115 made secretary of the territorial council, and in 1861 was secretary of the state sen- ate. The next year he was duly elected to the legitimate state senate from Atchison, where he had made his home. From that time he was the leader of the radical Re- publican element in the state. He became the editor of the " Atchison Champion " in 1863, which was a "red-hot free-soil Re- publican organ." In 1862 he was the anti- Lane candidate for lieutenant-governor, but was defeated. He was elected to the Unit- ed States senate to succeed Senator Pom- eroy, and took his seat in the forty-third congress and served until the fiftieth. In the forty-ninth congress he succeeded Sen- ator Sherman as president pro tern., which position he held through the fiftieth con- gress. BENJAMIN WEST, the greatest of the early Aaierican painters, was of Eng- lish descent and Quaker parentage. He was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738. From what source he inherited his genius it is hard to imagine, since the tenets and tendencies of the Quaker faith were not cal- culated to encourage the genius of art, but at the age of nine years, with no suggestion except that of inspiration, we find him choos- ing his model from life, and laboring over his first work calculated to attract public notice. It was a representation of a sleep- ing child in its cradle. The brush with which he painted it was made of hairs which he plucked from the cat's tail, and the colors were obtained from the war paints of friendly Indians, his mother's indigo bag, and ground chalk and charcoal, and the juice of berries, but there were touches in the rude production that he declared in later days were a credit to his best works. The pic- ture attracted notice, for a council was called at once to pass upon the boy's con- duct in thus infringing the laws of the so- ciety. There were judges among them who saw in his genius a rare gift and their wis- dom prevailed, and the child was given per- mission to follow his inclination. He studied under a painter named Williams, and then spent some years as a portrait painter with advancing success. At the age of twenty- two he went to Italy, and not until he had perfected himself by twenty-three years of labor in that paradise of art was he satisfied to turn his face toward home. However, he stopped at London, and decided to settle there, sending to America for his intended bride to join him. Though the Revolution- ary war was raging. King George III showed the American artist the highest considera- tion and regard. His remuneration from works for royalty amounted to five thou' sand dollars per year for thirty years. West's best known work in America is, perhaps, "The Death of General Wolf." West was one of the thirty-six original mem- bers of the Royal academy and succeeded Joshua Reynolds as president, which posi- tion he held until his death. His early works were his best, as he ceased to display originality in his later life, conventionality having seriously affected his efforts. He died in 1820. SAMUEL PORTER JONES, the famous Georgia evangelist, was born October 16, 1847, in Chambers county, Alabama. He did not attend school regularly during his boyhood, but worked on a farm, and went to school at intervals, on account of ill health. His father removed to Carters- ville, Georgia, when Mr. Jones was a small boy. He quit school at the age of nineteen and never attended college. The war inter- fered with his education, which was intended IIG COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. to prepare him for the legal profession. After the war he renewed his preparation for college, but was compelled to desist from such a course, as his health failed him en- tirely. Later on, however, he still pursued his legal studies and was admitted to the bar. Soon after this event he went to Dal- las, Paulding county, Georgia, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession, and in a few months removed to Cherokee county, Alabama, where he taught school. In 1869 he returned to Cartersville, Georgia, and arrived in time to see his father die. Immediately after this event he applied for a license to preach, and went to Atlanta, Georgia, to the meeting of the North Geor- gia Conference of the M. E. church south, which received him on trial. He became an evangelist of great note, and traveled extensively, delivering his sermons in an inimitable style that made him very popular with the masses, his methods of conducting revivals being unique and original and his preaching practical and incisive. SHELBY MOORE CULLOM, a national character in political affairs and for many years United States senator from Illinois, was born November 22, 1829, at Monticello, Kentucky. He came with his parents to Illinois in 1830 and spent his early yearson afarm, but havingformed the purpose of devoting himself to the lawyer's profession he spent two years study at the Rock River seminary atMount Morris, Illinois. In 1853 Mr. Cullom entered the law office of Stuart and Edwards at Springfield, Illinois, and two years later he began the independent prac- tice of law in that city. He took an active interest in politics and was soon elected city attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he v/as elected a member of the Illinois house of representatives. He identified himself with the newly formed Republican party and in i860 was re-elected to the legislature of his state, in which he was chosen speaker of the house. In 1862 President Lincoln appoint- ed a commission to pass upon and examine the accounts of the United States quarter- masters and disbursing officers, composed as follows: Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois; Charles A. Dana, of New York, and Gov. Boutwell, of Massachusetts. Mr. Cullom was nominated for congress in 1864, and was elected by a majority of 1,785. In the house of representatives he became an active and aggressive member, was chairman of the committee on territories and served in congress until 1868. Mr. Cullom was returned to the state legislature, of which he was chosen speaker in 1872, and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he was elected governor of Illinois and at the end of his term he was chosen for a second term. Hewaselected United States senator in 1 88^ and twice reelected. RICHARD JORDAN CATLING, an American inventor of much note, was born in Hertford county, North Carolina, September 12, 1818. At an early age he gave promise of an inventive genius. The first emanation from his mind was the invention of a screw for the propulsion 01 water craft, but on application for a patent,' found that he was forestalled but a short time by John Ericsson. Subse- quently he invented a machine for sowing' wheat in drills, which was used to a great extent throughout the west. He then stud- ied medicine, and in 1847-8 attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College at Laporte, and in 1848-9 at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He later discovered a method of transmitting power through the medium of compressed air. A COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPlfT 119 double-acting hemp break was also invented by him. The invention, however, by which Dr. Catling became best known was the famous machine gun which bears his name. This he brought to light in 1861-62, and on the first trial of it, in the spring of the latter year, two hundred shots per minute were fired from it. After making some improve- ments which increased its efficiency, it was submitted to severe trials by our govern- ment at the arsenals at Frankfort, Wash- ington and Fortress Monroe, and at other points. The gun was finally adopted by our government, as well as by that of Great Britain, Russia and others. BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN, who won a national fame in politics, was born August II, 1847, in Edgefield county. South Carolina. He received his education in the Oldfield school, where he acquired the rudiments of Latin and Creek, in addition to a good English education. He left school in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but was prevented from doing so by a severe illness, which resulted in the loss of an eye. In 1867 he removed to Florida, but returned in 1868, when he was married and devcted himself to farming. He was chairman of the Democratic organization of his county, but except a few occasional services he took no active part in politics then. Gradually, however, his attention was directed to the depressed condition of the farming interests of his state, and in August, 1885, before a joint meeting of the agricultural society and state grange at Bennettsville, he made a speech in which he set forth the cause of agricultural depression and urged measures of relief. From his active interest in the farming class he was styled the " Agricult- ural Moses." He advocated an industrial school for women and for a separate agri- 7 cultural college, and in 1S87 he secured a modification in the final draft of the will of Thomas C. Clemson, which resulted in the erection of the Clemson Agricultural Col- lege at Fort Hill. In 1890 he was chosen governor on the Democratic ticket, and carried the election by a large majority. Governor Tillman was inaugurated Decem- ber 4, 1890. Mr. Tillman was next elected to the United States senate from South Carolina, and gained a national reputation by his fervid oratory. GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE.— No journalist of America was so cele- brated in his time for the wit, spice, and vigor of his writing, as the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. From Atlantic to Pacific he was well known by his witticism as well as by strength and force of his edi- torials. He was a native of Preston, Con- necticut, born December 18, 1802. After laying the foundation of a liberal education in his youth, he entered Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1823. Tak- ing up the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1829. During part of his time he was editor of the " New England Weekly Review," a position which he relinquished to go south and was succeeded by John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet. On arriving in Louisville, whither he had gone to gather items for his history of Henry Clay, Mr. Prentice became identified with the " Louisville Journal," which, under his hands, became one of the leading Whig newspapers of the country. At the head of this he remained until the day of his deatli. This latter event occurred January 22, 1870, and he was succeeded in the control of the " Journal " by Colonel Henry Watterson. Mr. Prentice was an author of consider- able celebrity, chief among his works being 120 CO.yPEXDIC'M OF BIOGRAPIir "The Life of Henry Clay," and " Prentice- ana," a collection of wit and humor, that passed through several large editions. SAM. HOUSTON, in the opinion of some critics one of the most remarkable men w'lo ever figured in American history, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born March 2, 1793. Early in life he was left in destitute circumstances by the death of his father, and, with his mother, removed to Tennessee, then almost a boundless wilder- ness. He received but little education, spending the most of his time among the Cherokee Indians. Part of the time of his residence there Houston acted as clerk for a trader and also taught one of the primitive schools of the day. In 181 3 he enlisted as private in the United States army and was engaged under General Jackson in the war with the Creek Indians. When peace was made Houston was a lieutenant, but he re- signed his commission and commenced the study of law at Nashville. After holding some minor offices he was elected member of congress from Tennessee. This was in 1823. He retained this office until 1827, when he was chosen governor of the state. In 1829, resigning that office before the ex- piration of his term, Sam Houston removed to Arkansas, and made his home among the Cherokees, becoming the agent of that tribe and representing their interests at Washington. On a visit to Texas, just prior to the election of delegates to a con- vention called for the purpose of drawing up a constitution previous to the admission of the state into the Mexican union, he was unanimously chosen a delegate. The con- vention framed the constitution, but, it be- ing rejected by the government of Mexico, and the petition for admission to the Con- federacy denied and the Texans told by the president of the Mexican union to give up their arms, bred trouble. It was determined to resist this demand. A military force was soon organized, with General Houston at the head of it. War was prosecuted with great vigor, and with varying success, but at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, the Mexicans were defeated and their leader and president, Santa Anna, captured. Texas was then proclaimed an independent repub- lic, and in October of the same year Hous- ton was inaugurated president. On the ad- mission of Texas to the Federal Union, in 1845, Houston was elected senator, and held that position for twelve years. Oppos- ing the idea of secession, he retired from political life in 1861, and died at Hunts- ville, Texas, July 25, 1863. ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cot- ton-gin, was born in Westborough, Mas- sachusetts, December 8, 1765. After his graduation from Yale College, he went to Georgia, where he studied law, and lived with the family of the widow of General Nathaniel Greene. At that time the only way known to separate the cotton seed from the fiber was by hand, making it extremely slow and expensive, and for this reason cot- ton was little cultivated in this country. Mrs. Greene urged the inventive Whitney to devise some means for accomplishing this work by machinery. This he finally succeeded in doing, but he was harassed by attempts to defraud him by those who had stolen his ideas. He at last formed a part- nership with a man named Miller, and they began the manufacture of the machines at Washington, Georgia, in 1795. The suc- cess of his invention was immediate, and the legislature of South Carolina voted the sum of $50,000 for his idea. This sum he had great difficulty in collecting, after years of COMPEyDIUM OF BJOGRAP/ir. 1-21 litigation and delay. North Carolina al- lowed him a royalty, and the same was agreed to by Tennessee, but was never paid. While his fame rests upon the invention cf tiie cotton-gin, his fortune came from his improvements in the manufacture and con- struction of firearms. In 1798 the United Statv-S government gave him a contract for this purpose, and he accumulated a fortune from it. The town of Whitneyville, Con- necticut, v/as founded by this fortune. Whitney died at New Haven, Connecticut, January 8, 1825. The cotton-gin made the cultivation of cotton profitable, and this led to rapid in- troduction of slavery in the south. His in- vention thus affected our national history in a manner little dreamed of by the inventor. LESTER WALLACIv (John Lester Wal- lack), for many years the leading light comedian upon the American stage, was the son of James W. Wallack, the " Brum- mcll of the Stage." Bot^ father and son were noted for their comeliness of feature and form. Lester Wallack was born in New York. January i, 1819. He received his education in England, and made his first appearance on the stage in 1848 at the New Broadv^iay theater, New York. He acted light comedy parts, and also occasion- ally in romantic plays like Monte Cristo, which play made him his fame. He went to England and played under management of such men as Hamblin and Burton, and then returned to New York with his falher, who opened the first Wallack's theater, at the corner of Broome and Broadway, in 1852. The location was afterward changed to Thirteenth and Broadway, in 1861, and later to its present location, Broadway and Tiiirteenlh, in 1882. The elder Wallack died in 1S64, after which Lester assumed management, jointly with Theodore Moss. Lester Wallack was commissioned in the queen's service while in England, and there he also married a sister to tlie famous artist, the late John Everett Millais. While Les- ter Wallack never played in the interior cities, his name was as familiar to the public as that of our greatest stars. He died Sep- tember 6, 1888, at Stamford, Connecticut. GEORGE MORTIMER PULLMAN, the palace car magnate, inventor, multi-millionaire and manufacturer, may- well be classed among the remarkable self-made men of the century. He was born March 3, 1831, in Chautauqua county. New York. His parents were poor, and his education was limited to what he could learn of the rudimentary branches in the district school. At the age of fourteen he went to work as clerk for a country mer- chant. He kept this place three year^, stud>ing at night. When seventeen he went to Albion, New York, and Vv-orked for his brother, who kept a cabinet shop there. Five years later he went into business for himself as contractor fur moving buildings along the line of the Erie canal, which was then being widened by the state, and was successful in this. In 185S he removed to Chicago and engaged in the business of moving and raising houses. The work was novel there then and he was quite success- ful. About this time the discomfort attend- ant on traveling at night attracted his at- tention. He reasoned that the public would gladly pay for comfortable sleeping accom- modations. A few sleeping cars were in use at that time, but they were v.-retcliedly crude, uncomfortable affairs. In 1S5Q he bought two old day coaches from the Ciii- cago& Alton road and remodeled them some- thing like the general plan of the sleeping- 122 COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRArHT. cars of the present day. They were put into service on the Chicago & Alton and became popular at once. In 1863 he built the first sleeping-car resembling the Pullman cars of to-day. It cost $18,000 and was the "Pioneer." After that the Pullman Palace Car Company prospered. It had shops at different cities. In 1880 the Town of Pullman was founded by Mr. Pullman and his company, and this model manufac- turing community is known all over the world. Mr. Pullman died October 19, 1897. TAMES E. B. STUART, the most famous kJ cavalry leader of the Southern Confed- eracy during the Civil war, was born in Patrick county, Virginia, in 1833. Oil graduating from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1854, he was as- signed, as second lieutenant, to a regiment of mounted rifles, receiving his commission in October. In March, 1855, he was trans- ferred to the newly organized First cavalry, and was promoted to first lieutenant the following December, and to captain April 22, 1861. Taking the side of the south. May 14, 1 861, he was made colonel of a Virginia cavalry regiment, and served as such at Bull Run. In September, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gen- eral, and major-general early in 1862. On the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia, in June of the latter year, when R. E. Lee assumed command. General Stu- art made a reconnoissance with one thou- sand five hundred cavalry and four guns, and in two days made the circuit of McClel- lan's army, producing much confusion and gathering useful information, and losing but one man. August 25, 1862, he captured part of Pope's headquarters' train, including that general's private baggage and official correspondence, and the next night, in a descent upon Manasses, capturing immense quantities of commissary and quartermaster store, eight guns, a number of locomotives and a few hundred prisoners. During the invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862, General Stuart acted as rearguard, resisting the advance of the Federal cavalry at South Mountain, and at Antietam commanded the Confederate left. Shortly after he crossed the Potomac, making a raid as far as Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Gen- eral Stuart's command was on the extreme right of the Confederate line. At Chancel- lorsville, after "Stonewall " Jackson's death and the wounding of General A. P. Hill, General Stuart assumed command of Jack- son's corps, which he led in the sevefe con- test of May 3, 1863. Early in June, the same year, a large force of cavalry was gathered under Stuart, at Culpepper, Vir- ginia, which, advancing to join General Lee in his invasion of Pennsylvania, was met at Brandy Station, by \^No divisions of cavalry and two brigades of infantry, under General John I. Gregg, and driven back. During the movements of the Gettysburg campaign he rendered important services. In May, 1864, General Stuart succeeded, by a detour, in placing himself between Richmond and Sheridan's advancing column, and at Yellow Tavern was attacked in force. During the fierce conflict that ensued General Stuart was mortally wounded, and died at Rich- mond, May 1 1, 1864. FRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth president of the United States — from 1853 until 1857 — was born November 23, 1804, at Hillsboro, New Hampshire. He came of old revolutionary stock and his father was a governor of the state. Mr. Pierce entered Bowdoin College in 1820, COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHY. 123 was graduated in 1824, and took up the study of law in the office of Judge Wood- bury, and later he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Pierce practiced his profession with varying successes in his native town and also in Concord. He was elected to the state legislature in 1833 and served in that body until 1837, the last two years of his term serving as speaker of the house. He was elected to the United States senate in 1837, just as President Van Buren began his term of office. Mr. Pierce served until 1842, and many times during Polk's term he declined important public offices. During the war with Mexico Mr. Pierce was ap- pointed brigadier-general, and he embarked with a portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode .Island, May 27, 1847, and went with them to the field of battle. He served through the war and distinguished himself by his skill, bravery and excellent judg- ment. When he reached liis home in his native state he was received coldly by the opponents of the war, but the advocates of the war made up for his cold reception by the enthusiastic welcome which they ac- corded him. Mr. Pierce resumed the prac- tice of his profession, and in the political strife that followed he gave his support to the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party. The Democratic convention met in Baltimore, June 12, 1852, to nominate a candidate for tlie presidency, and they con- tinued in session four days, and in thirty- five ballotings no one had secured the re- quisite two-thirds vote. Mr. Pierce had not received a vote as yet, until the Virginia delegation brought his name forward, and finally on the forty-ninth ballot Mr, Pierce received 282 votes and all the other candi- dates eleven. His opponent on the Whig ticket was General Winfield Scott, who onlv received the electoral votes of four states. Mr. Pierce was inaugurated presi- dent of the United States March 4, 1853, with W. R. King as vice president, and the following named gentlemen were afterward chosen to fill the positions in the cabinet: William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jeffer- son Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert Mc- Clelland, James Campbell and Caleb Gush- ing. During the administration of President Pierce the Missouri compromise law was repealed, and all the territories of the Union were thrown open to slavery, and the dis- turbances in Kansas occurred. In 1857 he was succeeded in the presidency by James Buchanan, and retired to his home in Con- cord, New Hampshire. He always cherished his principles of slavery, and at the out- break of the rebellion he was an adherent of the cause of the Confederacy. He died at Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869. JAMES B. WEAVER, well known as a leader of the Greenback and later of the Populist party, was born at Dayton, Ohio, June 12, 1833. He received his earlier education in the schools of his native town, and entered the law department of the Ohio University, at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1854. Removing to the grow- ing state of Iowa, he became connected with "The Iowa Tribune," at the state capital, Des Moines, as one of its editors. He afterward practiced law and was elected district attorney for the second judicial dis- trict of Iowa, on the Republican ticket in 1866, which office he held for a short time. In 1 867 Mr. Weaver was appointed assessor of internal revenue for the first district of Iowa, and filled that position until some- time in 1873. He was elected and served in the forty-sixth congress. In 1880 th3 National or Greenback party in convention at Chicago, nominated James B. Weaver as 12 J: COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH7'. its candidate for tiie presidency. By a union of the Democratic and National parties in fiis district, he was elected to the forty-ninth congress, and re-elected to the same office in the fall of 1886. Mr. Weaver was conceded to be a very fluent speaker, and quite active in all political work. On July 4, 1892, at the National convention of the People's party, General James B. Weaver was chosen as the candidate for president of that organization, and during the campaign that followed, gained a na- tional reputation. ANTHONY JOSEPH DREXEL, one of the leading bankers and financiers of the United States, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1S26, and was the son of Francis M. Drexel, who had established the large banking institution of Drexel & Co. , so well known. The latter was a native of Dornbirn, in the Austrian Tyrol. He studied languages and fine arts at Turin, Italy. On returning to his mountain home, in 1809, and finding it in the hands of the French, he went to Switzerland and later to Paris. In 1 812, after a short visit home, he went to Berlin, where he studied paint- ing until 1S17, in which year he emigrated io America, and settled in Philadelphia. A few years later he went to Chili and Peru, where he executed some fine portraits of notable people, including General Simon Bolivar. After spending some time in Mex- ico, he returned to Philadelphia, and en- gaged in the banking business. . In 1S37 he founded the house of Drexel & Co. He died in 1837, and was succeeded by his two sons, Anthony J. and Francis A. His son, Anthony J. Drexel, Jr. , entered the bank when he was thirteen years of age, before he was through with his schooling, and after that the history of the banking business of which he was the head, was the history of his life. The New York house of Dre.xel, Mor- gan & Co. was established in 1850; the Paris house, Drexel, Harjes & Co., in 1867. The Drexel banking houses have supplied iand placed hundreds of millions of dollars n government, corporation, railroad and other loans and securities. The reputation of the houses has always been held on the highest plane. Mr. Drexel founded and heavily endowed the Drexel Institute, in Philadelphia, an institution to furnish better and wider avenues of employment to young people of both sexes. It has departments of arts, science, mechanical arts and domes- tic economy. Mr. Drexel, Jr., departed this life June 30, 1893. SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE, inventor of the recording telegraph in- strument, was born in Charlestowii, Massa- chusetts, April 27, 1791. He graduated from Yale College in 18 10, and took up art as his profession. He went to London with the great American painter, Washington AUston, and studied in the Royal Academy under Benjamin West. His " Dying Her- cules," his first effort in sculpture, took the gold medal in 1813. He returned to Amer- ica in 181 5 and continued to pursue his profession. He was greatly interested in scientific studies, which he carried on in connection with other labors. He founded the National Academy of Design and was many years its president. He returned to Europe and spent three years in study in the art centers, Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. In 1832 he returned to America and while on the return voyage the idea of a recording telegraph apparatus occurred to him, and he made a drawing to represent his conception. He was the first to occupy the chair of fine arts in the University of New COMPEXDILM OF BlOGRAPIir 125 York City, and in 1835 he set up his rude instrument in his room in the university. But it was not until after many years of discouragement and reverses of fortune that he finally was successful in placing his inven- tion before the public. In 1844, by aid of the United States government, h.e had con- structed a telegraph line forty miles in length from Washington to Baltimore. Over this line the test was made, and the first tele- graphic message was flashed May 24, 1844, from the United States supreme court rooms to Baltimore. It read, "What hath God wrought!" His fame and fortune were es- tablished in an instant. Wealth and honors poured in upon him from that day. The nations of Europe vied with each other in honoring the great inventor with medals, titles and decorations, and the learned societies of Europe hastened to enroll his name upon their membership lists and confer degrees. In 1858 he was the recipient of an honor never accorded to an inventor before. The ten leading nations of Europe, at the suggestion of the Emporer Napoleon, ap- pointed representatives to an international congress, which convened at Paris for the special purpose of expressing gratitude of- the nations, and they voted him a present of 400,000 francs. Professor IVIorse was present at the unveil- ing of a bronze statue erected in his honor in Central Park, New York, in 1871. His last appearance in public was at the unveiling of the statue of Benjamin Franklin in New York in 1872, when he made the dedica- tory speech and unveiled the statue. He died April 2, 1872, in the city of New York. MORRISON REMICH WAITE, seventh chief justice of the United States, was born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29, 1816. He was a graduate from Yale Col- lege in 1837, in the class with \\'illiam M. Evarts. His father was judge of the su- preme court of errors of the state of Con- necticut, and in his office young Waite studied law. He subsequently removed to Ohio, and was elected to the legislature of that state in 1849. He removed from Maumee City to Toledo and became a prom- inent legal light in that state. He was nominated as a candidate for congress re- peatedly but declined to run, and also de- clined a place on the supreme bench of the state. He won great distinction for his able handling of the Alabama claims at Geneva, before the arbitration tribunal in 1S71, and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of the United States in 1874 on the death of Judge Chase. When, in 1876, elec- toral commissioners were chosen to decide the presidential election controversy between Tilden and Hayes, Judge Waite refused to serve on that commission. His death occurred March 2^, 1888.. ELISHA KENT KANE was one of the distinguished American explorers of the unknown regions of the frozen north, and gave to the world a more accurate knowl- edge of the Arctic zone. Dr. Kane was born February 3, 1820, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and took his medical degree in 1843. He entered the service of the United States navy, and was physician to the Chinese embassy. Dr. Kane traveled extensively in the Levant, Asia and Western Africa, and also served- in the Mexican war, in which he was severely wounded. His first Arctic expedition was under De Haven in the first Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin in 1S50. He com- manded the second Grinnell expedition 126 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. in 1853-55. and discovered an open polar sea. For this expedition he received a gold medal and other distinctions. He published a narrative of his first polar expedition in 1853, and in 1856 published two volumes relating to his second polar expedition. He was a man of active, enterprising and cour- ageous spirit. His health, which was al- ways delicate, was impaired by the hard- ships of his Arctic expeditions, from which he never fully recovered and from which he died February 16, 1857, at Havana. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was a daughter of Judge Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston, and was born Novem- ber 12, 181 5, at Johnstown, New York. She was educated at the Johnstown Academy, where she studied with a class of boys, and was fitted for college at the age of fifteen, after which she pursued her studies at Mrs. Willard's Seminary, at Troy. Her atten- tion was called to the disabilities of her sex by her own educational experiences, and through a study of Blackstone, Story, and Kent. Miss Cady was married to Henry B. Stanton in 1840, and accompanied him to the world's anti-slavery convention in Lon- don. While there she made the acquain- tance of Lucretia Mott. Mrs. Stanton resided at Boston until 1847, when the family moved to Seneca Falls, New York, and she and Lucretia Mott signed the first call for a woman's rights convention. The meeting was held at her place of residence July 19-20, 1848. This was the first oc- casion of a formal claim of suffrage for women that was made. Mrs. Stanton ad- dressed the New York legislature, in 1S54, on the rights of married women, and in i860, in advocacy of the granting of di- vorce for drunkenness. She also addressed the legislature and the constitutional con- vention, and maintained that during the revision of the constitution the state was resolved into its original elements, and that all citizens had, therefore, a right to vote for the members of that convention. After 1869 Mrs. Stanton frequently addressed congressional committees and state consti- tutional conventions, and she canvassed Kansas, Michigan, and other states when the question of woman suffrage was sub- mitted in those states. Mrs. Stanton was one of the editors of the " Revolution," and most of the calls and resolutions for con- ventions have come from her pen. She was president of the national committee, also of the Woman's Loyal League, and of the National Association, for many years. DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, a great American jurist, was born in Connecti- cut in 1805. He entered Williams College when sixteen years old, and commenced the study of law in 1825. In 1828 he was ad- mitted to the bar, and went to New York, where he soon came into prominence be- fore the bar of that state. He entered upoti the labor of reforming the practice and procedure, which was then based upon the common law practice of England, and had become extremely complicated, difficult and uncertain in its application. His first paper on this subject was published in 1839, and after eight years of continuous efforts in this direction, he was appointed one of a com- mission by New York to reform the practice of that state. The result was embodied in the two codes of procedure, civil and crimi- nal, the first of which was adopted almost entire by the state of New York, and has since been adopted by more than half the states in the Union, and became the basis of the new practice and procedure in Eng- land, contained iii the Judicature act. He COMPENDIUM OF BIO GRAPH!'. 127 was later appointed chairman cf a new corn- mission to codify the entire body of laws. This great work employed many years in its completion, but when finished it embraced a civil, penal, and political code, covering the entire field of American laws, statutory and common. This great body of law was adopted by California and Dakota territory in its entirety, and many other states have since adopted its substance. In 1867 the British Association for Social Science heard a proposition from Mr. Field to prepare an international code. This led to the prepara- tion of his " Draft Outlines of an Interna- tional Code," which was in fact a complete body of international laws, and introduced the principle of arbitration. Other of his codes of the state of New York have since been adopted by that state. In addition to his great works on law, Mr. Field indulged his literary tastes by fre- quent contributions to general literature, and his articles on travels, literature, and the political questions of the hour gave him rank with the best writers of his time. His father was the Rev. David Dudley Field, and his brothers were Cyrus W. Field, Rev. Henry Martin Field, and Justice Stephen J. Field of the United States supreme court. David Dudley Field died at New York, April 13, 1S94. HENRY M. TELLER, a celebrated American politician, and secretary of the interior under President Arthur, was born May 23, 1830, in Allegany county, New York. He was of Hollandish ancestry and received an excellent education, after which he took up the study of law and was ad- mitted to the bar in the state of New York. Mr. Teller removed to Illinois in January, 1858, and practiced for three years in that state. From thence he moved to Colorado in 1 86 1 and located at Central City, which was then one of the principal mining towns in the state. His exceptional abilities as a lawyer soon brought him into prominence and gained for him a numerous and profit- able clientage. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party, but declined to become a candidate for office until the admission of Colorado into the Union as a state, when he was elected to the United States senate. Mr. Teller drew the term ending March 4, 1877, but was re-elected December 11, 1876, and served until April 17, 1882, when he was appointed by President Arthur as secretary of the interior. He accepted a cabinet position with reluctance, and on March 3, 1885, he retired from the cabinet, having been elected to the senate a short time before to succeed Nathaniel P. Hill. Mr. Teller took his seat on March 4, 1S85, in the senate, to which he was afterward re-elected. He served as chairmait on the committee of pensions, patents, mines and mining, and was also a member of commit- tees on claims, railroads, privileges and elections and public lands. Mr. Teller came to be recognized as one of the ablest advo- cates of the silver cause. He was one of the delegates to the Republican National conven- tion at St. Louis in 1896, in which he took an active part and tried to have a silver plank inserted in the platform of the party. Failing in this he felt impelled to bolt the convention, which he did and joined forces with the great silver movement in the cam- paign which followed, being recognized in that campaign as one of the most able and eminent advocates of "silver" in America. JOHN ERICSSON, an eminent inven- tor and machinist, who won fame in America, was born in Sweden, July 31,1 803. In early childhood he evinced a decided in- 128 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. clination to mechanical pursuits, and at the age of eleven he was appointed to a cadet- ship in the engineer corps, and at the age of seventeen was promoted to a lieutenancy. In 1826 he introduced a "flame engine," which he had invented, and offered it to English capitalists, but it was found that it could be operated only by the use of wood for fuel. Shortly after this he resigned his commission in the army of Sweden, and de- voted himself to mechanical pursuits. He discovered and introduced the principle of artificial draughts in steam boilers, and re- ceived a prize of two thousand five hundred dollars for his locomotive, the "Novelty," which attained a great speed, for that day. The artificial draught effected a great saving in fuel and made unnecessary the huge smoke-stacks formerly used, and the princi- ple is still applied, in modified form, in boil- ers. He ai.so invented a steam fire-engine, and later a hot-air engine, which he at- tempted to apply in the operation of his ship, "Ericsson," but as it did not give the speed required, he abandoned it, but after- wards applied it to machinery for pumping, hoisting, etc. Ericsson was first to apply the screw propeller to navigation. The English peo- ple not receiving this new departure readily, Ericsson came to America in 1839, and built the United States steamer, "Prince- ton," in which the screw-propeller was util- ized, the first steamer ever built in which the propeller was under water, out of range of the enemy's shots. The achievement which gave him greatest renown, however, was the ironclad vessel, the "Monitor," an ei:tirely new type of vessel, which, in March, 1862, attacked the Confederate monster ironclad ram, " Virginia," and after a fierce struggle, compelled her to withdraw from Hampton Roads for repairs. After the war one of his most noted inventions was his vessel, " Destroyer," with a submarine gun, which carried a projectile torpedo. In 1S86 the king of Spain conferred on him the grand cross of the Order of Naval Merit. He died in March, 1889, and his body was transferred, with naval honors, to the country of his birth. JAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi- dent of the United States, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Franklin county, April 23, 1791. He was of Irish ancestry, his father having come to this country in 1783, in quite humble circum- stances, and settled in the western part of the Kej'stone state. James Buchanan remained in his se- cluded home for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual adv9.ntages. His parents were industrious and frugal, and prospered, and, in 1799, the family removed to Mercersbur Pennsylvania, where he was placed in school. His progress was rapid, and in i8oi he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, where he took his place among the best scholars in the institution. In 1809 he graduated with the highest hon- ors in his class. He was then eighteen, tail, graceful and in vigorous health. He com- menced the study of law at Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose very rapidly in his profession and took a stand with the ablest of his fellow lawyers. When but twenty-six years old he success- fully defended, unaided by counsel, one of the judges of the state who was before the bar of t.hc state senate under articles of im- peachment. During the war of 18 12-15, ^^r. Buch- anan sustained the government with all his power, eloquently urging the vigorous prose- cution of the war, and enlisted as a private COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAP/IT 129 volunteer to assist in repelling the British who had sacked and burned the public buildings of Washington and threatened Baltimore. At that time Buchanan was a Federalist, but the opposition of that party to the war with Great Britain and the alien and sedition laws of John Adams, brought that party into disrepute, and drove many, among them Buchanan, into the Re- publican, or anti-Federalist ranks. He was elected to congress in 1S28. In 1831 he was sent as minister to Russia, and upon his return to this country, in 1833, was ele- vated to the United States senate, and re- mained in that position for twelve years. Upon the accession of President Polk to office he made Mr. Buchanan secretary of state. Four years later he retired to pri- vate life, and in 1853 he was honored with the mission to England. In 1856 the na- tional Democratic convention nominated him for the presidency and he was elected. It was during his administration that the rising tide of the secession movement over- took the country. Mr. Buchanan declared that the national constitution gave him no power to do anything against the movement to break up the Union. After his succession by Abraham Lincoln in i860, Mr. Buchanan retired to his home at Wheatland, Pennsyl- vania, where he died June i, 1868. JOHN HARVARD, the founder of the Harvard University, was born in Eng- land about the year 1608. He received his education at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and came to America in 1637, settling in Massachusetts. He was a non-conformist minister, and a tract of land was set aside for him in Charlestown, near Boston. He was at once appointed one of a committee to formulate a body of laws for the colony. One year before his arrival in the colony the general court had voted the sum of four hundred pounds toward the establishment of a school or college, half of which was to be paid the next year In 1637 preliminary plans were made for starting the school. In 1 63 8 John Harvard, who had shown great interest in the new institution of learning proposed, died, leaving his entire property, about twice the sum originally voted, to the school, together with three hundred volumes as a nucleus for a library. The institution was then given the name of Harvard, and established at Newton (now Cambridge), Massachusetts. It grew to be one of the two principal seats of learning in the new Vv'orld, and has maintained its reputation since. It now consists of twenty-two separate build- ings, and its curriculum embraces over one hundred and seventy elective courses, and it ranks among the great universities of the world. ROGER BROOKE TANEY, a noted jurist and chief justice of the United States supreme court, was born in Calvert county, Maryland, March 17, 1777. He graduated fiom Dickinson College at the age of eighteen, took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He was chosen to the legislature from his county, and in 1801 removed to Frederick, Mary- land. He became United States senator from Maryland in 18 16, and took up his permanent residence in 'Baltimore a few years later. In 1824 he became an ardent admirer and supporter of Andrew Jackson, and upon Jackson's election to the presi- dency, was appointed attorney general of the United States. Two years later he was appointed secretary of the treasury, and after serving in that capacity for nearly one year, the senate refused to confirm the ap- pointment. In 1835, upon the death of 130 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. Chief-justice Marshall, he was appointed to that place, and a political change having occurred in the make up of the senate, he was confirmed in 1836. He presided at his first session in January of the following year. The case which suggests itself first to the average reader in connection with this jurist is the celebrated " Dred Scott " case, which came before the supreme court for decision in 1856. In his opinion, delivered on behalf of a majority of the court, one remarkable statement occurs as a result of an exhaustive survey of the historical grounds, to the effect that " for more than a century prior to the adoption of the con- stitution they (Africans) had been regarded so far inferior tfiat they had no rights which a white man was bound to respect." Judge Taney retained the office of chief justice until his death, in 1864. JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.— This gen- tleman had a world-wide reputation as an historian, which placed him in the front rank of the great men of America. He was born April 15, 1814, at Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, was given a thorough preparatory education and then attended Harvard, from which he was graduated in 1831'. He also studied at Gottingen and Berlin, read law and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. la 1 84 1 he was appointed secretary of the legation at St. Petersburg, and in 1866-67 served as United States minister to Austria, serving in the same capacity during 1869 and 1870 to England. In 1856, after long and exhaustive research and preparation, he published in London "The Rise of the Dutch Republic." It embraced three vol- umes and immediately attracted great at- tention throughout Europe and America as a work of unusual merit. From 1861 to 1868 he produced "The History of the United Netherlands," in four volumes. Other works followed, with equal success, and his position as one of the foremost his- torians and writers of his day was firmly established. His death occured May 29, 1877- ELIAS HOWE, the inventor of the sew- ing machine, well deserves to be classed among the great and noted men of Amer- ica. He was the son of a miller and farmer and was born at Spencer, Massachusetts, July 9, 1819. In 1835 he went to Lowell and worked there, and later at Boston, in the machine shops. His first sewing machine was completed in 1 845 , and he patented it in 1846, laboring with the greatest persistency in spite of poverty and hardships, working for a time as an engine driver on a railroad at pauper wages and with broken health. He tlien spent two years of unsuccessful ex- ertion in England, striving in vain to bring his invention into public notice and use. He returned to the United States in almost hopeless poverty, to find that his patent had been violated. At last, however, he found friends who assisted him financially, and after years of litigation he made gor)d his claims in the courts in 1854. His inven- tion afterward brought him a large fortune. During the Civil war he volunteered as a private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Vol- unteers, and served for some time. During his life time he received the cross of the Legion of Honor and many other medals. His death occurred October 3, 1867, at Brooklyn, New York. PHILLIPS BROOKS, celebrated as an eloquent preacher and able pulpit ora- tor, was born in Boston on the 13th day of December, 1835. He received excellent COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT 131 educational advantages, and graduated at Harvard in 1855. Early in life he decided upon the ministry as his life work and studied theology in the Episcopal Theolog- ical Seminary, at Alexandria, Virginia. In 1859 he was ordained and the same year became pastor of the Church of the Advent, in Philadelphia. Three years later he as- sumed the pastorate of the Church of the Holy Trinity, where he remained until 1870. At the expiration of that time he accepted the pastoral charge of Trinity Church in Boston, where his eloquence and ability at- tracted mach attention and built up a pow- erful church organization. Dr. Brooks also devoted considerable time to lecturing and literary work and attained prominence in these lines. WILLIAM B. ALLISON, a statesman of national reputation and one of the leaders of the Republican party, was born March 2, 1829, at Perry, Ohio. He grew up on his father's farm, which he assisted in cultivating, and attended the district school. When sixteen years old he went to the academy at Wooster, and subse- quently spent a year at the Allegheny Col- lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He next taught school and spent another year at the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio. Mr. Allison then took up the study of lav/ at Wooster, where he was admitted to the bar in 1851, and soon obtained a position as deputy county clerk. His political lean- ings were toward the old line Whigs, who afterward laid the foundation of the Repub- lican party. Hj was a delegate to the state convention in 1856, in the campaign of which lie supported Fremont for president. Mr Allison removed to Dubuque, Iowa, in the following year. He rapidly rose to prominence at the bar an 1 i.i politics. In i860 lie was chosen as a delegate to the Republican convention held in Chicago, of which he was elected one of the secretaries. At the outbreak of the civil war he was ap- pointed on the staff of the governor. His congressional career opened in 1862, when he was elected to the thirty-eighth congress; he was re-elected three times, serving from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. He was a member of the ways and means committee a good part of his term. His career in the United States senate began in 1873, and he rapidly rose to eminence in national affairs, his service of a quarter of a century in that body being marked by close fealty to the Republican party. He twice declined the portfolio of the treasury tendered him by Garfield and Harrison, and his name was prominently mentioned for the presidency at several national Republican conventions. JV/|ARY ASHTON LIVERMORE, lec- i V 1 turer and v/riter, was born in Boston, December 19, 1821. She was the daughter of Timothy Rice, and married D. P. Liver- more, a preacher of the Universalist church. She contributed able articles to many of the most noted periodicals of this country and England. During the Civil war she labored zealously and with success on behalf of the sanitary commission which played so impor- tant a part during that great struggle. She became editor of the " Woman's Journal," published at Boston in 1870. She held a prominent place as a public speaker and writer on woman's suffrage, temperance, social and religious questions, and her influence was great in every cause she advocated. JOHN B. GOUGH. a noted temperance lecturer, wh ) wun his fame in America, wa3 born in the village of Sandgate, Kent, 1^2 COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH7'. England, August 22, 1817. He came to the United States at the age of twelve, lie followed the trade of bookbinder, and Jived in great poverty on account of the liquor habit. In 1843, however, he re- formed, and began his career as a tem.per- ance lecturer. He worked zealously in the cause of temperance, and his lectures and published articles revealed great earnestness. He formed temperance societies throughout the entire country, and labored with great success. He visited England in the same cause about the year 1853 and again in 1878. He also lectured upon many other topics, in Vv'hich he attained a wide reputa- tion. His death occurred February i8, 1886. THOM.\S BUCHANAN READ, author, sculptor and painter, was born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1822. He early evinced a taste for art, and began the study of sculpture in Cincinnati. Later he found painting more to his liking. He went to New York, where he followed this profession, and later to Boston. In 1846 he located in Philadelphia. He visited Italy in 1850, and studied at Florence, where he resided almost continuously for twenty-two years. He returned to America in 1872, and died in New York May 1 1 of the same year. He was the author of many heroic poems, but the one giving him the most re- nown is his famous "Sheridan's Ride," of which he has also left a representation in painting. EUGENE V. DEBS, the former famous president of the American Railway Union, and great labor leader, was born in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855. He received his education in the public schools of that place and at the age (A sixteen years began work as a painter in the \'andalia shops. After this, for some three years, he was employed as a loco- motive fireman on the same road. His first appearance in public life was in his canvass for the election to the ofSce of city clerk of Terre Haute. In this capacity he served two terms, and when twenty six years of age was elected a member of the legislature of the state of Indiana. While a member of that body he secured the passage of several bills in the interest of organized labor, of which he was always a faithful champion. Mr. Debs' speech nominating Daniel Voorhees for the United States senate gave him a wide reputation for oratory. On the expiration of his term in the legislature, he was elected grand secre- tary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and filled that office for fourteen successive years. He was always an earnest advocate of confederation of railroad men and it was mainly through his efforts that the United Order of Railway Employes, composed of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and Conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firem.en and the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association was formed, and he became a member of its supreme council. The order was dissolved by disagreement between two of its leading orders, and then Mr. Debs conceived ths idea of the American Railway Union. He worked on the details and the union came into e.xistence in Chicago, June 20, i S93. For a time it prospered and became one of the largest bodies of railway men in the world. It won in a contest with the Great Northern Railway. In the strike made by the union in sympathy with the Pullman employes inaugurated in Chicago June 25. 1S94, and the consequent rioting, the Railway Union COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. i;,8 lost much prestige and Mr. Debs, in company with others of the officers, being held as in con- tempt of the United States courts, he suffered a sentence of six months in jail at Wood- stock, McHenry county, Ilh'nois. In 1897 Mr. Debs, on the demise of the American Railway Union, organized the Social Democracy, an institution founded on the best lines of the communistic idea, which was to provide homes and employment for its members. JOHN G. CARLISLE, famous as a law- 3er, congressman, senator and cabinet officer, was born in Campbell (now Kenton) county, Kentucky, September 5, 1835, on a farm. He received tlie usual education oi the time and began at an early age to teach school and, at the same time, the study of law. Soon opportunity offered and he entered an office in Covington, Kentucky, and was admitted to practice at the bar in 1858. Politics attracted his attention and in 1859 he was elected to the house of rep- resentatives in the legislature of his native state. On the outbreak of the war in 1 86 1 , he embraced the cause of the Union and was largely instrumental in preserving Kentucky to tlie federal cause. He resumed his legal practice for a time and declined a nomina- tion as presidential elector in 1864. In 1866 and again in 1869 Mr. Carlisle was elected to the senate of Kentucky. ■ He re- signed this position in 1871 and was chosen lieutenant governor of the state, which office he held until 1875. He was one of tiie presidential e!ectors-at- large for Ken- tucky in 1876. He first entered congress in 1877, and soon became a prominent leader on the Democratic side of the house of rep- resentatives, and continued a member of that body through the forty-sixth, forty- seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth con- gresses, and was speaker of the house during the two latter. He was elected to the United States senate to succeed Senritor Blackburn, and remained a member of that branch of congress until March, 1893, when he was appointed secretary of the treasury. He performed the duties of that high office until March 4, 1897, throughout the en- tire second administration of President Cleveland. His ability and many years of public service gave him a national reputa- tion. FRANCES E. WILLARD, for many years president of the 'Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and a noted American lecturer and writer, was born in Rochester, New York, September 28, 1839. Graduating from the Northwestern Female College at the age of nineteen she began teaching and met with great success in many cities of the west. She was made directress of Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary at Lima, Ohio, in 1867, and four years later was elected president of the Evanston College for young ladies, a branch of the Northwestern University. During the two years succeeding 1869 she traveled extensively in Europe and the east, visiting Egypt and Palestine, a.id gathering materials for a valuable course of lectures, which she delivered at Chicago on her return. She became very popular, and won great influence in the temperance cause. Her work as president of the Wo- man's Christian Temperance Union greatly strengthened that society, and she made frequent trips to Europe in the uiterest of that cause. RICHARD OLNEY.— Among the promi- nent men who were members of the cabinet of President Cleveland in his second administration, the gentleman whose nama COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT. beads this h :^ i le^-^Tne place, oc- ccDving ^ general and seer Mr. Olney came trc - est and most honored Ncv _. .. es; the first of his ancestors to come from Eng- land settled in Ma^achnsetts in 1635. This was Thomas Olney. He was a friend and co-religionist of Rt^er Williams, and when the latter moved to what is now Rhode fclan d, went with him and became one of the founders of Providence Plantations. Richard Olney was bom in Oxford, Massachusetts, in 1835, and received the elements of his earlier edncation in the com- mon schools which New England is so proad of. He entered Brown University, from 'vhich he graduated in 1856, and passed the Harvard law school two years later. He began the practice of his profession with J2dge B. F. Thomas, a prominent man of that locality. For years Richard Olney was regarded as one of the ablest and most ieamed lawyers in Masachnsetts. Twice he vras o-?er?-d a place on the bench of the =■-.-.- —.of the state, bnt both times be : Hr —1= ='^^75 z Democrat in his f r.y years was a tr-;! _ :: i^ : ; -:= of that party. In 1874 Mr. Olney was elected a member of the legislature. In 1876, daring tfie heated presidential campaign, to ^rengthen the cause of Mr. Ti-den in the New England states, it was intimated that in the event of that gentleman's election to tne president^, Mr. Olney would be attor- t^ev peoeraL \\lien Grover Cleveland was elected pr^- '*»'jt of the United States, on his inangnra- tica in March, 1893, he tendered the posi- con of attorney general to Richard Olney. "Ihis was accepted, and that gentleman fel- led the duties of the oSce ondl the death of Walter O. Gresham, in May. 1895. made vacant the position of secretar}- of state. This post was filled by the appointment of Mr. Olney. Whfle occnpying the later office. Mr. Olney brooght hin^elf into inter- national prominence by some very able state papers- JOHX j.-^i KS'l'Iv. for many years corr.p- troller of the carrency. and an emir.ent financier, was bom in Knoxboro, OneiJa coonty. New York. May 19. 1S28. He re- ceived a good education and gradoated at Hamilton College in 1849. For abo'Jt thirteen years he was engaged as a private banker, or in a position in a baak, where he laid the foundation of his knowledge of the laws of finance. In 1862. Salmon P. Chase, then secretary of the treasury, ap- pointed him to an oSce in that department of the government, and later he had charge of the mint coinage correapondeace. In i S67 Mr. Keox was made deputy comptixjller of the carrency, and in that capacity, in 1870. he made two reports on the mint service, with a codification of the mint and coinage laws of the United States, and sa^esting many important amendments These reports were oidered printed by reso- lution of congress. The bill which he pre- pared, with some slight changes, was sub- sequently passed, and has been known in history as the " Coinage Act of 1873.*' In 1872 Mr. Knox --vrs appointed comp- troller of the currency, and held that re- sponsible position nntii 18S4, when he re- signed. He then accej-ted the position of preadent of the Nationsl Bank of the Re- public, of New York City, which institation he served for many years. He was the authored " United States Notes," published in 1884. In the reports spoken of above, a historv of the two United States bacL: :? COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 135 given, together with that of the state and national banking system, and oiach valuable statistical matter relating to kindred sab- ject5. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.— In the opinion of many critics Hawthorne is prononnced the foremost American novelist, =i.n of romance is said ;r. His repatation is ~ class with C. Abbott. tre he gave he graduated in 1825 H W L^-- He then r his attent:o- :, . irrijre tales and other articles ;r cals. His first ventore : mgrce. "* Fanshaw,'' ore- removed t -2 '• Aaier : OEt of eausteace. : ■ Twice ToM TaSes, ch; jdy made op of his foroaer c ; tj magazines. In 1S3S— 41 he 1.. - _ ^ - .- tjoo in the Boston ctEtooi hoase, bat later took:----'-- r "Brook:--- ------ a 5C' -- afta- the In xtj.1 ..t -L= ' i:.i :v,£ res-iesce at tLt ige at C- MiSi - ' -^/-..^^ „5 vziZ^iatX^'iZit ::: his * * ^o >ji-<:r s pe-«>-n an Old a 57 ne years Lenox, Massachusetts. and the ' ' House of the Seven Gabies J me. was E::t-.edale Life iom e was ap- — pool. ;ar5, aly. up :tt3. e.x- N'e'A- - - - .n to -./ve Mr. Hawthorne e following books: n Historj-, " • ' The Won- -: _ T..; Snow Image," "Tangle- wood Tales," "The Marble Fann," and " ' Oor Old Home. " After his death appeared a series of "Notebooks," edited by his wife. prcf :i-;i there, as well R In 1852 : c: 1 :_ „ Pierce. "a he warmly regarded. pointed ^ ''■'':' ----- Engiar. c h- re Uljile been p ABRAHAM LINCOLN, - ; r. dent of the United States, was bora Febraary 12, 1809, in Lame coanty f Har- din coon^j, Kentucky, in a If^-cabin near H '- — 'e. >\lien be was er~' - - -- ed with bis parents t 3 river, and a year .^-.^r His fatiierthea married V.r-.. Scarlet Letter. 3 ibos empsoyed -s^rks. "The two focdoes ior debate, a tood ot bomor'^. 136 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. anecdote, as well as the composition of rude verses. He made a trip at the age of nine- tctn to New Orleans on a ilat-boat, and set- tled in Illinois in 1830. He assisted his father to build a log house and clear a farm on the Sangamon river near Decatur, Illinois, and split the rails with which to fence it. In 1 85 1 he was employed in the building of a flat-boat on the Sangamon, and to run it to New Orleans. The voyage gave him anew insight into the horrors of slavery in the south. On his return he settled at New Salem and engaged, first as a clerk in a store, then as grocer, surveyor and postmaster, and he piloted the first steamboat that as- cended the Sangamon. He participated in the Black Hawk war as captain of volun- teers, and after his return he studied law, interested himself in politics, and became prominent locally as a public speaker. He was elected to the legislature in 1834 as a '• Clay Whig, " and began at once to dis- play a command of language and forcible rhetoric that made him a match for his more cultured opponents. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1837, and began prac- tice at Springfield. He married a lady of a prominent Kentucky family in 1842. He was active in the presidential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 and was an elector on the Harrison and Clay tickets, and was elected to congress in 1846, over Peter Cartwright. He voted for the Wilmot proviso and the abolition of slavery in the District of Colum- bia, and opposed the war with Mexico, but gained little prominence during his two years' service. He then returned to Spring- field and devoted his attention to law, tak- ing little interest in politics, until the repeal of the Missouri compromise and the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1 8 54. This awakened his interest in politics again and he attacked tlie champion of that measure. Stephen A. Douglas, in. a speech at Spring- field that made him famous, and is said by those who heard it to be the greatest speech of his life. Lincoln was selected as candidate for the United States senate, but was defeated by Trumbull. Upon the pas- sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill the Whig party suddenly went to pieces, and the Re- publican party gathered head. At the Bloomington Republican convention in 1856 Lincoln made an effective address in v.^hich he first took a position antagonistic to the ex- istence of slavery. He was a Fremont elector and received a strong support for nomina- tion as vice-president in the Philadelphia convention. In 1858 he v/as the unanimous choice of the Republicans for the United States senate, and the great campaign of de- bate which followed resulted in the election of Douglas, but established Lincoln's repu- tation as the leading exponent of Republican doctrines. He began to be mentioned in Illinois as candidate for the presidency, and a course of addresses in the eastern states attracted favorable attention. When the national convention met at Chicago, his rivals. Chase, Seward, Bates and others, were compelled to retire before the western giant, and he was.nominated, with Hannibal Hamlin as his running mate. The Demo- cratic party had now been disrupted, and Lincoln's election assured. He carried practically every northern state, and the secession of South Carolina, followed by a number of the gulf states, took place before his inauguration. Lincoln is the only presi- dent who was ever compelled to reach Washington in a secret manner. He es- caped assassination by avoiding Baltimore, and was quietly inaugurated March 4, 1861. His inaugural address was firm but con- ciliatory, and he said to the secessionists: "You h.ave no oath registered in hea\en COMrEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 137 to destroy the government, while 1 have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and (Itfcnd it.' He made up his cabinet chiefly of those pohtical rivals in his own party — Seward, Chase, Cameron, Bates — and se- cured the co-operation of the Douglas Dem- o.rats. His great deeds, amidst the heat and turmoil of war, were: His call for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and the blockading of southern ports; calling of con- gress in extra session, July 14, 1S61, and obtaining f<3ur hundred thousand men and four hundred million dollars for the prosecu- tion of the war; appointing Stanton secre- tary of war; issuing the emancipation proc- lamation; calling three hundred thou- sand volunteers; address at Gettysburg cemetery; commissioned Grant as lieuten- ant-general and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States; his second inaugural address; liis visit to the army be- fore Richmond, and his entry into Rich- mond the day after its surrender. Abraham Lincoln was shot by Jotm Wi'kes Booth in a box in Ford's theater at Washington the night of April 14, 1865, and expired the following morning. His body was buried at Oak Ridge cemetery, Springfield, Illinois, and a monument com- memorating his great work marks his resting place. STEPHEN GIRARD, the celebrated philanthropist, was born in Bordeaux, France, May 24, 1750. He became a sailor engaged in the American coast trade, and also made frequent trips to the West Indies. During the Revolutionary war he was a grocer and liquor seller in Philadelphia. He married in that city, and afterward separated from his wife. After the war he again engaged in the coast and West India trade, and his fortu.je began to accumulate from receiving goods from West Indian planters during the insurrection in Hayti, little of which was ever called for again. He became a private banker in Phihidelphia in 1812, and afterward was a director in the United States Bank. He made much tnoiiey by leasing property in the city in times of depression, and upon the revival of industry sub-leasing at enormous profit. He became the wealthiest citizen of the United States of his time. He was eccentric, ungracious, and a freethinker. He had few, if any, friends in his lifetime. However, he was most chari- tably disposed, and gave to charitable in- stitutions and schools with a liberal hand. He did more than any one else to relieve the suffering and deprivations during the great yellow fever scourge in Philadelphia, devoting his personal attention to the si^k. He endowed and ■ made a free institution, the famous Will's Eye and Ear Intirnjary of Philadelph a — one of the largest institu- tions of its kind in the world. At his death practically all his iu)mense wealth was be- queathed to charitable institutions, mure than two millions of dollars going to the founding of Girard College, which was to be devoted to the education and training of boys between the ag. s of six and ten years. Large donations were also made to institu- tions in Philadelphia and New Orleans. The [Principal building of Girard College, is the most magnificent example of Greek architecture in America. Girard died De- cember 26, I S3 I. LOUIS J. R. AGASSIZ, the eminent nat- uralist and geolog st, was born in the parish of Motier, near Lake Neuchatel, Swit- zerland, May 28, 1807, but attained his greatest fame after becoming an American citizen. He studied the medical sciences at 138 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich. His first work was a Latin description of the fishes which Martius and Spix brought from Brazil. This was published in 1 829-3 1 • He devoted much time to the study of fossil fishes, and in 1832 was appointed professor of natural history at Neuchatel. He greatly increased his reputation by a great work in French, entitled " Researches on Fossil Fishes," in 1832-42, in which he made many important improvements in the classification of fishes. Having passed many summers among the Alps in researches on glaciers, he propounded some new and interesting ideas on geology, and the agency of glaciers in his "Studies by the Glaciers." This was published in 1840. This latter work, with his " System of the Glaciers," published in 1847, '^re among his principal works. In 1846, Professor Agassiz crossed the ocean on a scientific excursion to the United States, and soon determined to remain here. He accepted, about the beginning of 1848, the chair of zoology and geology at Harvard. He explored the natural history of the United States at different times and gave an impulse to the study of nature in this country. In 1865 he conducted an expedi- tion to Brazil, and explored the lower Ama- zon and its tributaries. In 1868 he was made non-resident professor of natural his- tory at Cornell University. In December, 1,871, he accompanied the Hassler expedi- tion, under Professor Pierce, to the South Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 14, 1873- Among other of the important works of Professor Agassiz may be mentioned the fol- lowing: "Outlines of Comparative Physi- ology," "Journey to Brazil," and "Contri- butions to the Natural History of the United States." It is said of Professor Agassiz, that, perhaps, with the exception of Hugh Miller, no one had so popularized science in his day, or trained so many young natural- ists. Many of the theories held by Agassiz are not supported by many of the natural- ists of these later days, but upon many of the speculations into the origin of species and in physics he has left the marks of his own strongly marked individuality. WILLIAM WINDOM.— As a prominent and leading lawyer of the great north- west, as a member of both houses of con- gress, and as the secretary of the treasury, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch won for himself a prominent position in the history of our country. Mr. Windom was a native of Ohio, born in Belmont county, May 10, 1827. He received a good elementary education in the schools of his native state, and took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Ohio, where he remained until 1855. In the latter year he made up his mind to move further west, and accordingly went to Minnesota, and opening an office, became identified with the interests of that state, and the northwest generally. In 1858 he took his place in the Minnesota delegation in the national house of repre- sentatives, at Washington, and continued to represent his constituency in that body for ten years. In 1871 Mr. Windom was elected United States senator from Min- nesota, and was re-elected to the same office after fulfilling the duties of the position for a full term, in 1876. On the inauguration of President Garfield, in March, 1881, Mr. Windom became secretary of the treasury in his cabinet. He resigned this office Oc- tober 27, i88t, and was elected senator from the North Star state to fill the va- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 139 cancy caused by the resignation of A. J. Etlgerton. Mr. Wiiidoni served in that chamber until March, 1883. WilHam Windom died in New Yurk City January 29, 1S91. DON M. DICKINSON, an American politician and lawyer, was born in Port Ontario, New York, January 17, 1846. lie removed with his parents to Michigan when he was but two years old. He was educated in the public schools of Detroit and at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. In 1872 he was made secretary of the Democratic state central committee of Michigan, and his able man- agement of the campaign gave him a prom- inent place in the councils of his party. In 1876, during the Tilden campaign, he acted as chairman of the state central committee. He was afterward chosen to represent his state in the Democratic national committee, and in 1886 he was appointed postmaster- general by President Cleveland. After the expiration of his term of office he returned to Detroit and resumed the practice of law. In the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr. Dickinson adhered to the "gold wing "of the Democracy, and his influence was felt in the national canvass, and especially in his own state. JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the founder of vJ the Astor family and fortiines, while not a native of this country, was one of the most noted men of his time, and as all his wealth and fame were acquired here, he may well be classed among America's great men. He was born near Heidelberg, Ger- many, July 17, 1763, and when twenty years old emigrated to the United States. Even at that age he exhibited remarkable business ability and foresight, and soon he was investing capital in furs which he took to London and sold at a great profit. He next settled at New York, and engaged ex- tensively in the fur trade. He exported furs to Europe in his own vessels, which re- turned with cargoes of foreign commodities, and thus he rapidly amassed an immense fortune. In 181 1 he founded Astoria on the western coast of North America, near the mouth of the Columbia river, as a depot for the fur trade, for the promotion of which he sent a number of expeditions to the Pacific ocean. He also purchased a large amount of real estate in New York, the value of which increased enormously All through life his business ventures were a series of marvelous successes, and he ranked as one of the most sagacious and successful business men in the world. He died March 29, 1848, leaving a fortune es- timated at over twenty million dollars to his children, who have since increased it. John Jacob Astor left $400,000 to found a public library in New York City, and his son, William B. Astor, who died in 1875, left $300,000 to add to his father's bequest. This is known as the Astor Library, one of the largest in the United States. SCHUYLER COLFAX, an eminent American statesman, was born in New York City, March 23, 1823, being a grand- son of General William Colfax, the com- mander of Washington's life-guards. In 1836 he removed with his mother, who was then a widow, to Indiana, settling at South Bend. Young Schuyler studied law, and in 1845 became editor of the "St. Josepli Valley Register," a Whig paper published at South Bend. He was a member of the convention which formed a new constitu- tion for Indiana in 1850, and he opposed 140 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the clause tliat prohibited colored men from settling in that state. In 1851 he was defeated as the Whig candidate for congress but was elected in 1854, and, being repeat- edly re-elected, continued to represent that district in congress until 1869. He became one of the most prominent and influential members of the house of representatives, and served three terms as speaker. During the Civil war he was an active participant in all public measures of importance, and was a confidential friend and adviser of President Lincoln. In May, 1868, Mr. Colfax was nominated for vice-president on the ticket with General Grant, and was elected. After the close of his term he re- tired from office, and for the remainder of his life devoted much of his time to lectur- ing and literary pursuits. His death oc- curred January 23, 1885. He was one of the most prominent members of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows in America, and that order erected a bronze statue to his memory in University Park, Indianapo- lis, Indiana, which was unveiled in May, 1SS7. WILLIAM FREEMAN VILAS, who at- tained a national reputation as an able lawyer, statesman, and cabinet officer, was born at Chelsea, Vermont, July g, 1840. His parents removed to Wisconsin when our subject was but eleven years of age, and there with the early settlers endured ail the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. William F. Vilas was given all the advantages found in the common schools, and supplemented this by a course of study in the Wisconsin State University, after wliich he studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing at Madison. Shortly afterward the Civil war broke oat and Mr. Vilas enlisted and became colonel of the Twenty-third regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, serving throughout the war with distinction. At the close of the war he re- turned to Wisconsin, resumed his law prac- tice, and rapidly rose to eminence in this profession. In 1885 he was selected by President Cleveland for postmaster-general and at the close of his term again returned to Madison, Wisconsin, to resume the prac- tice of law. THOMAS McINTYRE COOLEY, an em- inent American jurist and law writer, was born in Atticji, New York, January 6, 1824. He was admitted to the bar in 1846, and four years later was appointed reporter of the supreme court of Michigan, which office he continued to hold for seven years. In the meantime, in 1859, he became pro- fessor of the law department of the Univer- sity of Michigan, and soon afterward was made dean of the faculty of that depart- ment. In 1864 he was elected justice of the supreme court of Michigan, in 1867 be- came chief justice of that court, and in 1869 was re-elected for a term of eight years. In 1881 he again joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, assuming the professorship of constitutional and adminis- trative law. His works on these branches have become standard, and he is recog- nized as authority on this and related sub- jects. Upon the passage of the inter-state commerce law in 1887 he became chairman of the commission and served in that capac- ity four years. JOHN PETER ALTGELD, a noted kJ American politician and writer on social questions, was born in Germany, December 30, 1847. He came to America with his parents and settled in Ohio when two years old. In 1 SG4 lij entered the Union army COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIT. 141 and served till the close of the war, after wliich he settled in Chicago, Illinois. He was elected judge of the superior court of Cook county, Illinois, in 1886, in which capacity he served until elected governor of Illinois in 1892, as a Democrat. During the first year of his term as governor he at- tracted national attention by his pardon of the anarchists convicted of the Hajniarkct murder in Chicago, and again in 1894 by his denunciation of President Cleveland for calling out federal troops to suppress the rioting in connection with the great Pull- man strike in Chicago. At the national convention of the Democratic party in Chi- cago, in July, 1896, he is said to have in- spired the clause in the platform denuncia- tory of interference by federal authorities in local affairs, and "government by injunc- tion." He was gubernatorial candidate for re-election on the Democratic ticket in 1896, but was defeated by John R. Tanner, Re- publican. Mr. Altgeld published two vol- umes of essays on " Live Questions," evinc- ing radical views on social matters. ADLAI EWING STEVENSON, an Amer. ican statesman and politician, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, October 23, 1835, and removed witli the family to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1852. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and set- tled in the practice of his profession in Metamora, Illinois. In 1861 he was made master in chancery of Woodford county, and in 1864 was elected state's at- torney. In 1868 he returned to Blooming- ton and formed a law partnership with James S. Ewing. He had served as a pres- idential elector in 1864, and in 1868 was elected to congress as a Democrat, receiv- ing a majority vote from every county in his district. He became promment in his party, and was a delegate to the national convention in 1884. On the election of Cleveland to the presidency Mr. Stevenson was appointed first assistant postmaster- general. After the expiration of his term he continued to e.xert a controlling influence in the politics of his state, and in 1892 was elected vice-president of the United States on the ticket vvith Grover Cleveland. At the expiration of his term of office he re- sumed the practice of law at Bloomington, Illinois. SIMON CAMERON, whose name is prominently identified with the history of the United States as a political leader and statesman, was bom in Lancaster coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving good educational advantages, and develop- ing a natural inclination for political life. He rapidly rose in prominence and became the most influential Democrat in Pennsyl- vania, and in 1845 waselected by that party to the United States senate. Upon the organization of the Republican party he was one of the first to declare his allegiance to it, and in 1856 was re-elected United States senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican. In March, 1861, he was appointed secretary of war by President Lincoln, and served until early in 1862, when he was sent as minister to Russia, returning in 1863. In 1866 he was again elected United States senator and served until 1877, when he re- signed and was succeeded by his son, James Donald Cameron. He continued to exert a powerful influence in political affairs up to the time of his death, June 26, 1889. James Donald Cameron was the eld- est son of Simon Cameron, and also attained a high rank among American st.itesmen. He was born at Harrisburg, 144 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. Pennsylvania, May 14, 1833, and received an excellent education, graduating at Princeton College in 1852. He rapidly developed into one of the most able and successful business men cf the country and was largely .inter- ested in and identified with the develop- ment of the coal, iron, lumber and manu- facturing interests of his native state. He served as cashier and afterward president of the Middletownbank, and in 1861 was made vice-president, and in 1863 president of the Northern Central railroad, holding this position until 1874, when he resigned and was succeeded by Thomas A. Scott. This road was of great service to the government during the war as a means of communica- tion between Pennsylvania and the national capital, via Baltimore. Mr. Cameron also took an active part in political affairs, always as a Republican. In May, 1876, he was appointed secretary of war in Pres- ident Grant's cabinet, and in 1877 suc- ceeded his father in the United States senate. He was re-elected in 1885, and again in 1 891, serving until 1896, and was recognized as one of the most prominent and influential members of that bodv. ADOLPHUS W. GREELEY, a famous American arctic explorer, was born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 27, 1844. He graduated from Brown High School at the age of sixteen, and a year later enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry, and was made first sergeant. In 1863 he was promoted to second lieutenant. After the war he was assigned to the Fifth United States Cavalry, and became first lieutenant in 1873. He was assigned to duty in the United States ■signal service shortly after the close of the -war. An expedition was fitted out by the United States government in 18S1, un- der auspices of the weather bureau, and Lieutenant Greeley placed in command. They set sail from St. Johns the first week in July, and after nine days landed in Green- land, where they secured the services of two natives, together with sledges, dogs, furs and equipment. They encountered an ice pack early in August, and on the '28th of that month freezing weather set in. Two of his party. Lieutenant Lockwood and Ser- geant Brainard, added to the known maps about forty miles of coast survey, and reached the highest point yet attained by man, eighty-three degrees and twenty-four minutes north, longitude, forty-four degrees and five minutes west. On their return to Fort Conger, Lieutenant Greeley set out for the south on August 9, 1883. He reached Baird Inlet twenty days later with liis entire party. Here they were compelled to abandon their boats, and drifted on an ice-floe for one month. They then went into camp at Cape Sabine, where tliey suf- fered untold hardships, and eighteen of the party succumbed to cold and hunger, and had relief been delayed two days longer none would have been found alive. They were picked up by the relief expedition, under Captain Schley, June 22, 1884. The dead were taken to New York for burial. Many sensational stories were published concerning the expedition, and Lieutenant Greeley prepared an exhaustive account of his explorations and experiences. LEVI P. MORTON, the millionaire poli- tician, was born in Shoreham, Ver- mont, May 16, 1824, and his early educa- tion consisted of the rudiments which he obtained in the common school up to the age of fourteen, and after that time what knowledge he gained was wrested from the hard school of experience. He removed to COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. 143 Hanover, Vermont, then Concord, Vermont, and afterwards to Boston. He had worked in a store at Shoreham, his native village, and on going to Hanover he established a store and went into business for himself. In Boston he clerked in a dry goods store, and then opened a business of his own in the same line in New York. After a short career he failed, and was compelled to set- tle with his creditors at only fifty cents on the dollar. He began the struggle anew, and when the war began he established a banking house in New York, with Junius Morgan as a partner. Through his firm and connections the great government war loans were floated, and it resulted in im- mense profits to his house. When he was again thoroughly established he invited his former creditors to a banquet, and under each guest's plate was found a check cover- ing the amount of loss sustained respec- tively, with interest to date. President Garfield appointed Mr. Mor- ton as minister to France, after he had de- clined the secretaryship of the navy, and in 1888 he was nominated as candidate for vice-president, with Harrison, and elected. In 1894 he was elected governor of New York over David B. Hill, and served one term. CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, one of the most talented and prominent educators this country has known, was born January 24, 1835, ^t Derby, Vermont. He received an elementary education in the common schools, and studied two terms in the Derby Academy. Mr. Adams moved with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He was very anxious to pursue a collegiate course, but this was impossible until he had attained the age of twenty-one. In the autumn of 1856 he began the study of Latin and Greek at Denmark Academy, and in September, 1857, he was admitted to the University of Michigan. Mr. Adams was wholly depend- ent upon himself for the means of his edu- cation. During his third and fourth year he became deeply interested in historical studies, was assistant librarian of the uni- versity, and determined to pursue a post- graduate course. In 1864 he was appointed instructor of history and Latin and v/as ad- vanced to an assistant professorship in 1865, and in 1867, on the resignation of Professoi White to accept the presidency of Cornell, he was appointed to fill the chair of profes- sor of history. This he accepted on con- dition of his being allowed to spend a year for special study in Germany, France and Italy. Mr. Adams returned in 1868, and assumed the duties of his professorship. He introduced the German system for the instruction of advanced history classes, and his lectures were largely attended. In 1885, on the resignation of President White at Cornell, he was elected his successor and held the office for seven years, and on Jan- uary 17, 1893, he was inaugurated presi- dent of the University of Wisconsin. Pres- ident Adams was prominently connected with numerous scientific and literary organ- izations and a frequent contributor to the historical and educational data in the peri- odicals and journals of the country. He was the author of the following: " Dem- ocracy and Monarchy in France," " Manual of Historical Literature," " A Plea for Sci- entific Agriculture," " Higher Education in Germany." JOSEPH B. FORAKER, a prominent po- litical leader and e.x-governor of Ohio, was born near Rainsboro, Highland county, Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents operated a small farm, with a grist and sawmill, hav- 144 COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRAPIir. ing emigrated hither from Virginia and Delaware on account of their distaste for slavery. Joseph was reared upon a farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry. Later he was made ser- geant, and in 1864 commissioned first lieu- tenant. The next year he was brevetted captain. At the age of nineteen he was mustered out of the army after a brilliant service, part of the time being on the staff of General Slocum. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount- ain and Kenesaw Mountain and in Sher- man's march to the sea. For two years subsequent to the war young Foraker was studying at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, but later went to Cornell University, at Unity, New York, from which he graduated July i, 1869. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1879 Mr. Foraker was elected judge of the superior court of Cincinnati and held the office for three years. In 1883 he was defeated in the contest for the gov- ernorship with Judge Hoadly. In 1885, however, being again nominated for the same office, he was elected and served two terms. In 1889, in running for governor again, this time against James E. Camp- bell, he was defeated. Two years later his career in the United States senate began. Mr. Foraker was always a prominent figure at all national meetings of the Republican party, and a strong power, politically, in his native state. LYMAN ABBOTT, an eminent American preacher and writer on religious sub- jects, came of a noted New England family. His father. Rev. Jacob Abbott, was a prolific and popular writer, and his uncle. Rev. John S. C. Abbott, was a noted preacher and author. Lyman Abbott was born December 18, 1835, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He graduated at the New York University, in 1853, studied law, and practiced for a time at tlte bar, after which he studied theology with his uncle. Rev. John S. C. Abbott, and in i860 was settled in the ministry at Terre Haute, Indiana, re- maining there until after the close of the war. He then became connected with the Freedmen's Commission, continuing this until 1868, when he accepted the pastorate of the New England Congregational church, in New York City. A few years later he re- signed, to devote his time principally to lit- erary pursuits. For a number of years he edited for the American Tract Society, its "Illustrated Christian Weekly," also the New York "Christian Union." He pro- duced many works, which had a wide circu- lation, among which may be mentioned the following: "Jesus of Nazareth, His Life and Teachings," "Old Testament Shadows of New Testament Truths," "Morning and Evening Exercises, Selected from Writings of Henry Ward Beecher, " " Laicus, or the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish," "Popular Religious Dictionary," and "Commentaries on Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts." GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.— The well-known author, orator and journal- ist whose name heads this sketch, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, February 24, 1824. Having laid the foundation of a most excellent education in his native land, he went to Europe and studied at the Uni- versity of Berlin. He made an extensive tour throughout the Levant, from which he returned home in 1850. At that early age literature became his field of labor, and in 185 I he published his first important work, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 145 " Nile Notes of a Howadji." In 1852 two works issued from his facile pen, "The Howadji in Syria," and "Lotus-Eating." Later on he was the author of the well- known " Potiphar Papers," " Prue and L" and "Trumps." He greatly distinguished himself throughout this land as a lecturer on many subjects, and as an orator had but few peers. He was also well known as one of the most fluent speakers on the stump, making many political speeches in favor of the Republican party. In recognition of his valuable services, Mr. Curtis was ap- pointed by President Grant, chairman of the advisory board of the civil service. Al- though a life-long Republican, Mr. Curtis refused to support Blaine for the presidency in 1884, because of his ideas on civil ser- vice and other reforms. For his memorable and magnificent eulogy on Wendell Phillips, delivered in Boston, in 1884, that city pre- sented Mr. Curtis with a gold medal. George W. Curtis, however, is best known to the reading public of the United States by his connection with the Harper Brothers, having been editor of the "Har- per's Weekly," and of the " Easy Chair," in " Harper's Monthly Magazine, "for many years, in fact retaining that position until the day of his death, which occurred August 31. 1892. ANDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth president of the United States, served from 1865 to 1869. He was born Decem- ber 8, 1808, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and was left an orphan at the age of four years. He never attended school, and was apprenticed to a tailor. While serving his apprenticeship he suddenly acquired a pas- sion for knowledge, atjd learned to read. From that time on he spent all his spare time in reading, and after working for two years as a journeyman tailor at Lauren's Court House, South Carolina, he removed to Greenville, Tennessee, where he worked at his trade and was married. Under his wife's instruction he made rapid progress in his studies and manifested such an interest in local politics as to be elected as " work- ingmen's candidate " alderman in 1828, and in 1830 to the mayoralty, and was twice re-elected to each office. Mr. Johnson utilized this time in cultivating his talents as a public speaker, by taking part in a de- bating society. He was elected in 1835 to the lower house of the legislature, was re- elected in 1839 as a Democrat, and in 1 84 1 was elected state senator. Mr. John- son was elected representative in congress in 1843 and was re-elected four times in succession until 1853, when he was the suc- cessful candidate for the gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. He was re-elected in 1855 and in 1857 he entered the United States senate. In i860 he was supported by the Tennessee delegation to the Democratic convention for the presidential nomination, and lent his influence to the Breckinridge wing of the party. At the election of Lin- coln, which brought about the first attempt at secession in December, i860, Mr. John- son took a firm attitude in the senate for the Union. He was the leader of the loy- alists in East Tennessee. By the course that Mr. Johnson pursued in this crisis he was brought prominently before the north- ern people, and when, in March, 1S62, he was appointed military governor of Ten- nessee with the rank of brigadier-general, he increased his popularity by the vigorous manner in which he labored to restore order. In the campaign of 1864 he was elected vice-president on the ticket with President Lincoln, and upon the assassi- nation of the latter he succeeded to the 146 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT. presidency, April 15, 1865. He retained the cabinet of President Lincoln, and at first exhibited considerable severity towards the former Confederates, but he soon inau- gurated a policy of reconstruction, pro- claimed a general amnesty to the late Con- federates, and established provisional gov- ernments in the southern states. These states claimed representation in congress in the following December, and then arose the momentous question as to what should be the policy of the victorious Union against their late enemies. The Republican ma- jority in congress had an apprehension that the President would undo the results of the war, and consequently passed two bills over the executive veto, and the two highest branches of the government v.'ere in open antagonism. The cabinet was reconstructed in July, and Messrs. Randall, Stanbury and Browning superseded Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan. In August, 1867, Pres- ident Johnson removed the secretary of war and replaced him with General Grant, but when congress met in December it refused to ratify the removal of Stanton, who re- sumed the functions of his office. In 1868 the president again attempted to remove Stanton, who refused to vacate his post and was sustained by the senate. Presi- dent Johnson was accused by congress of high crimes and misdemeanors, but the trial resulted in his acquittal. Later he was Uni- ted States senator from Tennessee, and died July 31, 1875. EDMUND RANDOLPH, first attorney- general of the United States, was born in Virginia, August 10, 1753. His father, John Randolph, was attorney-general of Virginia, and lived and died a royalist. Ed- mund was educated in the law. but joined the army as aide-de-camp to Washington in 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was elected to the Virginia convention in 1776, and attorney-general of the state the same year. In 1779 he was elected to the Continental congress, and served four years in that body. He was a member of the con- vention in 1787 that framed the constitu- tion. In that convention he proposed what was known as the " Virginia plan" of con- federation, but it was rejected. He advo- cated the ratification of the constitution in ttie Virginia convention, although he had re- fused to sign it. He became governor of Virginia in 1788, and the next year Wash- ington appointed him to the office of at- torney-general of the United States upon the organization of the government under the constitution. He was appointed secre- tary of state to succeed Jefferson during Washington's second term, but resigned a year later on account of differences in the cabinet concerning the policy pursued to- ward the new French republic. He died September 12, 181 3. W INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was born in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, February 14, 1824. He received his early education at the Norristown Academy, in his native county, and, in 1840, was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy, at West Point. He was graduated from the latter in 1844, and brev- etted as second lieutenant of infantry. In 1853 he was made first lieutenant, and two years later transferred to the quartermaster's department, with the rank of captain, and in 1863 promoted to the rank of major. He served on the frontier, and in the war with Mexico, displaying conspicuous gallantry dur- ing the latter. He also took a part in the Seminole war, and in the troubles in Kan- sas, in 1857, and in California, at the out- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 147 break of the Civil war, as chief quarter- master of the Southern district, he exerted a powerful influence. In 1861 he applied for active duty in the field, and was assigned to the department of Kentucky as chief quartermaster, but before entering upon that duty, was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers. His subsequent history during the war was substantially that of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the campaign, under McClellan, and led the gallant charge, which captured Fort Magru- der, won the day at the battle of Wil- liamsburg, and by services rendered at Savage's Station and other engagements, won several grades in the regular service, and was recommended by McClellan for major-general of volunteers. He was a con- spicuous figure at South Mountain and An- tietam. He was commissioned major-gen- eral of volunteers, November 29, 1862, and made commander of the First Division of the Second Corps, which he led at Fred- ricksburg and at Chancellorsville. He was appointed to the command of the Second Corps in June, 1863, and at the battle of Gettysburg, July i, 2 and 3, of that year, took an important part. On his arrival on the field he found part of the forces then in retreat, but stayed the retrograde movement, checked the enemy, and on the following day commanded the left center, repulsed, on the third, the grand assault of General Lee's army, and was severely wounded. For his services on that field General Hancock received the thanks of congress. On recovering from his wound, he was detailed to go north to stimulate re- cruiting and fill up the diminished corps, and was the recipient of many public receptions and ovations. In March, 1864, he returned to his command, and in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania led large bodies of men successfully and conspicuously. From that on to the close of the campaign he was a prominent figure. In November, 1864, he was detailed to organize the First Veteran Reserve Corps, and at the close of hostilities was appointed to the command of the Mid- dle Military Division. In July, 1866, he was made major-general of the regular service. He was at the head of various military departments until 1872, when he was assigned to the command of the Depart- ment of the Atlantic, which post he held until his death. In 1869 he declined the nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. He was the nominee of the Democratic party for president, in 1880, and was de- feated by General Garfield, who had a popu- lar majority of seven thousand and eighteen and an electoral majority'lof fifty-nine. Gen- eral Hancock died February 9, 1886. THOMAS PAINE, the most noted polit- ical and deistical writer of the Revolu- tionary period, was born in England, Jan- uary 29, 1737, of Quaker parents. His edu- cation was. obtained in the grammar schools of Thetford, his native town, and supple- mented by hard private study while working at his trade of stay-maker at London and other cities of England. He was for a time a dissenting preacher, although he did not relinquish his employment. He married a revenue ofScial's daughter, and was employed in the revenue service for some time. He then became a grocer and during all this time he was reading and cultivating his literary tastes, and had developed a clear and forci- ble style of composition. He was chosen to represent the interests of the excisemen, and published a pamphlet that brought him considerable notice. He was soon after- ward introduced to Benjamin Franklin, and having been dismissed from the service on a 148 COMrEJVBIUM OF lUOGRAJ'HV charge of smuggling, his resentment led him to accept the advice of that statesman to come to America, in 1774. He became editor of the ' ' Pennsylvania Magazine," and the next year published his "Serious Thoughts upon Slavery" in the "Penn- sylvania Journal." His greatest political work, however, was written at the sugges- tion of Dr. Rush, and entitled "Common Sense." It was the most popular pamphlet written during the period and he received two thousand five hundred dollars from the state of Pennsylvania in recognition of its value. His periodical, the "Crisis," began in 1776, and its distribution among the soldiers did a great deal to keep up the spirit of revolution. He was made secretary cf the committee of foreign affairs, but was dis- missed for revealing diplomatic secrets in one of his controversies with Silas Deane. He was originator and promoter of a sub- scription to relieve the distress of the soldiers near the close of the war, and was sent to France with Henry Laurens to negotiate the treaty with France, and was granted three thousand dollars by congress for his services there, and an estate at New Rochelle, by the state of New York. In 1787, after the close of the Revolu- tionary war, he went to France, and a few years later published his " Rights of Man," defending the French revolution, which gave him great popularity in France. He was made a citizen and elected to the na- tional convention at Calais. He favored banishment of the king to America, and opposed his execution. He was imprisoned for about ten months during 1794 by the Robespierre party, during which time he wrote the " Age of Reason," his great deis- tical work. He was in danger of the guillo- tine for several months. He took up his residence with the family of James Monroe, then minister to France and was chosen again to the convention. He returned to the United States in 1802, and was cordially received throughout the coun- try except at Trenton, where he was insulted by Federalists. He retired to his estate at New Rochelle, and his death occurred June 8, 1809. JOHN WILLIAM MACKAY was one of America's noted men, both in the de- velopment of the western coast and the building of the Mackay and Bennett cable. He was born in 1831 at Dublin, Ireland; came to New York in 1840 and his boyhood days were spent in Park Row. He went to California some time after the' argonauts of 1849 and took to the primitive methods of mining — ^lost and won and finally drifted into Nevada about i86o. The bonanza dis- coveries which were to have such a potent influence on the finance and statesmanship of the day came in 1872. Mr. Mackay founded the Nevada Bank in 1878. He is said to have taken one hundred and fifty million dollars in bullion out of the Big Bonanza mine. There were as- sociated with him in this enterprise James G. Fair, senator from Nevada; William O'Brien and James C. Flood. When vast wealth came to Mr. Mackay he be- lieved it his duty to do his country some service, and he agitated in his mind the building of an American steamship line, and while brooding over this his attention was called to the cable relations between America and Europe. The financial man- agement of the cable was selfish and ex- travagant, and the capital was heavy with accretions of financial " water " and to pay even an apparent dividend upon the sums which represented the nominal value of the cables, it was necessary to hold the rates COMPEN'DIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 149 at an exorbitant figure. And, moreover, the cables were foreign; in one the influence of France being paramount and in the other that of England; and in the matter of intel- ligence, so necessary in case of war, we would be at the mercy of our enemies. This train of thought brought Mr. Mackay into re- lation with James Gordon Bennett, the pro- prietor of the " New York Herald." The result of their intercourse was that Mr. Mac- kay so far entered into the enthusiasm of Mr. Bennett over an independent cable, that he offered to assist the enterprise with five hundred thousand dollars. This was the inception of the Commercial Cable Com- pany, or of what has been known for years as the Mackav-Bennett cable. ELISHA GRAY, the great inventor and electrician, was born August 2, 1835. at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio. He was, as a child, greatly interested in the phenomena of nature, and read with avidity all the books he could obtain, relating to this subject. He was apprenticed to various trades during his boyhood, but his insatiable thirst for knowledge dominated his life and he found time to study at odd intervals. Supporting himself by working at his trade, he found time to pursue a course at Oberlin College, where he particularly devoted him- self to the study of physicial science. Ivlr. Gray secured his first patent for electrical or telegraph apparatus on October i, 1867. His attention was first attracted to tele- phonic transmission during this year and he saw in it a way of transmitting signals for telegraph purposes, and conceived the idea ■of electro-tones, tuned to different tones in the scale. He did not then realize the im- portance of his invention, his thoughts being employed on the capacity of the apparatus for transmitting musical tones throuirh an electric circuit, and it was not until 1874 that he was again called to consider the re- production of electrically-transmitted vibra- tions through the medium of animal tissue. He continued experimenting with various results, which finally culminated in his taking out a patent for his speaking tele- phone on February 14, 1876. He took out fifty additional patents in the course of eleven years, among which were, telegraph switch, telegraph repeater, telegraph annun- ciator and typewriting telegraph. From 1869 until 1873 he was employed in the manufacture of telegraph apparatus in Cleve- land and Chicago, and filled the office of electrician to the Western Electric Com- pany. He was awarded the degree of U. S., and in 1874 he went abroad to perfect himself in acoustics. Mr. Gray's latest in- vention was known as the telautograph or long distance writing machine. Mr. Gray wrote and published several works on scien- tific subjects, among which were: "Tele- graphy and Telephony," and " Experi- mental Research in Electro-Harmonic Tele- graphy and Telephony." "\^.^HITELAW REID.— Among the many V V men who have adorned the field of journalism in the United States, few stand out with more prominence than the scholar, author and editor whose name heads this ar- ticle. Born at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, October 27, 1837, he graduated at Miami University in 1856. For about a year he was superintendent of the graded schools of South Charleston, Ohio, after which he pur- chased the "Xenia News," which he edited for about two years. This paper was the first one outside of Illinois to advocate the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Reid having been a Republican since the birth of that party in 1856. After taking an active 150 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIIV part in the campaign, in the winter of 1860- 61, he went to the state capital as corres- pondent of three daily papers. At the close of the session of the legislature he became city editor of the "Cincinnati Gazette," and at the breaking out of the war went to the front as a correspondent for that journal. For a time he served on the staff of General Morris in West Virginia, with the rank of captain. Shortly after he was on the staff of General Rosecrans, and, under the name of "Agate," wrote most graphic descrip- tions of the movements in the field, espe- cially that of the battle ol Pittsburg Land- ing. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Reid went to Washington and was appointed librarian to the house of representatives, and acted as correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette." His description of the battle of Gettysburg, written on the field, gained him added reputation. In 1865 he accompanied Chief Justice Chase on a southern tour, and pub- lished "After the War; a Southern Tour." During the next two years he was engaged in cotton planting in Louisiana and Ala- bama, and published "Ohio in the War." In 1868 he returned to the " Cincinnati Ga- zette," becoming one of its leading editors. The same year he accepted the invitation of Horace Greeley and became one of the staff on the " New York Tribune." Upon the death of Mr. Greeley in 1872, Mr. Reid be- came editor and chief proprietor of that paper. In 187S he was tendered the United States mission to Berlin, but declined. The offer was again made by the Garfield ad- ministration, but again he declined. In 1878 he was elected by the New York legis- lature regent of the university, to succeed General John A. Dix. Under the Harrison administration he served as United States minister to France, and in 1892 was the Republican nominee for the vice-presidency of the United States. Among other works- published by him were the " Schools of Journalism," "The Scholar in Politics," ''Some Newspaper Tendencies," and ' ' Town-Hall Suggestions. " GEORGE WHITEFIELD was one of the most powerful and effective preach- ers the world has ever produced, swaying his hearers and touching the hearts of im- mense audiences in a manner that has rarely been equalled and never surpassed. While not a native of America, yet much of his labor was spent in this country. He wielded a great influence in the United States in early days, and his death occurred here; so that he well deserves a place in this volume as one of the most celebrated men America has known. George Whitefield was born in the Bull Inn, at Gloucester, England, December 16, 17 14. He acquired the rudiments of learn- ing in St. Mary's grammar school. Later he attended Oxford University for a time, where he became intimate with the Oxford Methodists, and resolved to devote himself to the ministry. He was ordained in the Gloucester Cathedral June 20, 1836, and the following day preached his first sermon in the same church. On that day there commenced a new era in Whitefield's life. He went to London and began to preach at Bishopsgate church, his fame soon spread- ing over the city, and shortly he was en- gaged four times on a single Sunday in ad- dressing audiences of enormous magnitude, and he preached in various parts of his native country, the people crowding in multitudes to hear him and hanging upon the rails and rafters of the churches and approaches there- to. He finally sailed for America, landing in Georgia, where he stirred the people to great enthusiasm. During the balance of //. ftirt7iisf>-( ii\^ COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. \l his life he divided his time between Great Britain and America, and it is recorded that he crossed the Atlantic thirteen times. He came to America for the seventh time in 1770. He preached every day at Boston from the 17th to the 20th of September, 1770, then traveled to Newbury port, preach- ing at Exeter, New Hampshire, September 29, on the way. That evening he went to Newburyport, where he died the ne.xt day, Sunday, September 30, 1770. " Whitefield's dramatic power was amaz- ing, " says an eminent writer in describing him. " His voice was marvelously varied, and he ever had it at command — an organ, a flute, a harp, all in one. His intellectual powers were not of a high order, but he had an abundance of that ready talent and that wonderful magnetism vv'hich makes the pop- ular preacher; and beyond all natural en- dowments, there was in his ministry the power of evangelical truth, and, as his con- verts believed, the presence of the spirit of God." CHARLES FRANCIS BRUSH, one of America's prominent men in the devel- opment of electrical science, was born March 17, 1849, near Cleveland, Ohio, and spent his early life on his father's farm. From the district school at Wickliffe, Ohio, he passed to the Shaw Academy at CoUamer, and then entered the high school at Cleve- land. His interest in chemistry, physics and engineering was already marked, and during his senior year he was placed in charge of the chemical and physical appar- atus. During these years he devised a plan fur lighting street lamps, constructed tele- scopes, and his first electric arc lamp, also an electric motor. In September, 1867, he entered the engineering department of the University of Michigan and graduated in 1869, which was a year in advance of his class, with the degree of M. E. He then returned to Cleveland, and for three years was engaged as an analytical chemist and for four years in the iron business. In 1875 Mr. Brush became interested in elec- tric lighting, and in 1876, after four months' experimenting, he completed the dynamo- electric machine that has made his name famous, and in a shorter time produced the series arc lamps. These were both patent- ed in the United States in 1876, and he afterward obtained fifty patents on his later inventions, including the fundamental stor- age battery, the compound series, shunt- winding for dynamo-electric machines, and the automatic cut-out for arc lamps. His patents, two-thirds of which have already been profitable, are held by the Brush Electric Company, of Cleveland, while his foreign patents are controlled by the Anglo- American Brush Electric Ligiit Company, of London. In 18S0 the Western Reserve University conferred upon Mr. Brush the degree of Ph. D., and in 1881 the French government decorated him as a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. HENRY CLEWS, of Wall-street fame, was one of the noted old-time opera- tors on that famous street, and was also an author of some repute. Mr. Clews was born in Staffordshire, England, August 14, 1840. His father had him educated with the intention of preparing him for the minis- try, but on a visit to the United States the young man became interested in a business life, and was allowed to engage as a clerk in the importing house of Wilson G. Hunt & Co., of New York. Here he learned the first principles of business, and when the war broke out in 1861 young Clews saw in the needs of the government an opportunity to- L"4 COMPEXDIUM OF BlOGRAPIir. reap a golden harvest. He identified him- self with the negotiating of loans for the government, and used his powers of pur- suasion upon the great money powers to •convince them of the stability of the govern- ment and the value of its securities. By enthusiasm and patriotic arguments he in- duced capitalists to invest their money in government securities, often against their judgment, and his success was remarkable. His was one of the leading firms that aided the struggling treasury department in that critical hour, and his reward was great. In addition to the vast wealth it brought, President Lincoln and Secretary Chase both wrote important letters, acknowledging his valued service. In 1873, by the repu- diation of the bonded indebtedness of the state of Georgia, Mr. Clews lost six million dollars which he had invested in those se- curities. It is said that he is the only man, with one exception, in Wall street, who ever regained great wealth after utter dis- aster. His " Twenty-Eight Years in Wall Street " has been widely read. ALFRED VAIL was one of the men that gave to the world the electric telegraph and the names of Henry, Morse and Vail will forever remain linked as the prime fac- tors in that great achievement. Mr. Vail was born September 25, 1807, at Morris- town, New Jersey, and was a son of Stephen Vail, the proprietor of the Speedwell Iron Works, near Morristown. At the age of seventeen, after he had completed his stud- ies at the Morristown Academy, Alfred Vail went into the Speedwell Iron Works and contented himself with the duties of his position until he reached his majority. He then determined to prepare himself for the ministry, and at the age of twenty-five he ■entered the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated in 1836. His health becoming impaired he labored for a titne under much uncertainty as to his future course. Professor S. F. B. Morse had come to the university in 1835 as professor of lit- erature and fine arts, and about this time, 1837, Professor Gale, occupying the chair of chemistry, invited Morse to exhibit his apparatus for the benefit of the students. On Saturday, September 2, 1837, tlie exhi- bition took place and Vail was asked to at- tend, and with his inherited taste for me- chanics and knowledge of their construction, he saw a great future for the crude mechan- ism used by Morse in giving and recording signals. Mr. Vail interested his father in the invention, and Morse was invited to Speedwell and the elder Vail promised to help him. It was stipulated that Alfred Vail should construct the required apparatus and exhibit before a committee of congress the telegraph instrument, and was to receive a quarter interest in the invention. Morse had devised a series of ten numbered leaden types, which were to be operated in giving the signal. This was not satisfactory to Vail, so he devised an entirely new instru- ment, involving a lever, or "point," on a radically different principle, which, when tested, produced dots and dashes, and de- vised the famous dot-and-dash alphabet, misnamed the " Morse." At last the ma- chine was in working order, on January 6, 1838. The machine was taken to Wash- ington, where it caused not only wonder, but excitement. Vail continued his experi- ments and ■ devised the lever and roller. When the line between Baltimore and Washington was cornpleted. Vail was sta- tioned at the Baltimore end and received the famous first message. It is a remarka- ble fact that not a single feature of the original invention of Morse, as formulated COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRArilT. 155' by his caveat and repeated in his original patent, is to be found in Vail's apparatus. From 1837 to 1844 it was a combination of tlie inventions of Morse, Henry and Vail, but the work of Morse fell gradually into desuetude, while Vail's conception of an alphabet has remained unchanged for half a century. Mr. Vail published but one work, "American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph," in 1845, and died at Morristown at the com- paratively early age of fifty-one, on January 19. 1859- ULYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth president of the United States, was born April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Cler- mont county, Ohio. At the age of seven- teen he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in June, 1843, and was given his brevet as second lieutenant and assigned to the Fourth Infantry. He remained in the service eleven years, in which time he was engaged in the Mexican war with gal- lantry, and was thrice brevetted for conduct in the field. In 1848 he married Miss Julia Dent, and in 1854, having reached the grade of captain, he resigned and engaged in farming near St. Louis. In i860 he en- tered the leather business with his father at Galena, Illinois. On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he commenced to drill a company at Ga- lena, and at the same time offered his serv- ices to the adjutant-general of the army, but he had few influential friends, so re- ceived no answer. He was employed by the governor of Illinois in the organization of the various volunteer regiments, and at the end of a few weeks was given the colonelcy of the Twenty- first Infantry, from that state. His military training and knowl- edge soon attracted the attention of his su- perior officers, and on reporting to General Pope in Missouri, the latter put him in the way of advancement. August 7, 1861, he was promoted to' the rank of brigadier- general of volunteers, and for a few weeks was occupied in watching the movements of partisan forces in Missouri. September i, the same year, he was placed in command of the Department of Southeast Missouri, with headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th of the month, without orders, seized Padu- cah, which commanded the channel of the Oiiio and Tennessee rivers, by which he se- cured Kentucky for the Union. He now received orders to make a demonstration on Belmont, which he did, and with about three thousand raw recruits held his own against the Confederates some seven thousand strong, bringing back about two hundred prisoners and two guns. In February, '1862, he moved up the Tennessee river with the naval fleet under Commodore Foote. The latter soon silenced Fort Henry, and Grant advanced against Fort Donelson and took their fortress and its garrison. His prize here consisted of si.\ty-five cannon, seventeen thousand si.K hundred stand of arms, and fourteen thousand six hundred and twenty-three prisoners. This was the first important success won by the Union forces. Grant was immediately made a major-general and placed in command of the district of West Tennessee. In April, I S62, he fought the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing, and after the evacuation of Corinth by the enemy Grant became commander of the Department of the Tennessee. He now made his first demonstration toward V'icks- burg, but owing to the incapacity of subor- dinate officers, was unsuccessful. In Janu- ary, 1S63, he took command of all the troops in the Mississippi Valley and devoted several months to the siege of Vicksburg, 156 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. which was finally taken possession of by him Julj'4, with thirty-one thousand six hundred prisoners and one hundred and seventy-two cannon, thus throwing the Mississippi river open to the Federals. He was now raised to the rank of major-general in the regular army, October following, at the head of the Department of the Mississippi, General Grant went to Chattanooga, where he over- threw the enemy, and united with the Army of the Cumberland. The remarkable suc- cesses achieved by him pointed Grant out for an appropriate commander of all na- tional troops, and in February, 1864, the rank of lieutenant-general was made for him by act of congress. Sending Sherman into Georgia, Sigel into the Valley of West Vir- ginia and Butler to attsmpt the capture of Richmond he fought his v\'ay through the Wilderness to the James and pressed the siege of the capital of the Confederacy. After the fall of the latter Grant pressed the Confederate army so hard that their commander surrendered at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. This virtually ended the war. After the war the rank of general was conferred upon U. S. Grant, and in 1868 he was elected president of the United States, and re-elected his own successor in 1872. After the expiration of the latter term he made his famous tour of the world. He died at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, New York, July 23, 1885, and was buried at Riverside Park, New York, where a magnificent tomb has been erected to hold the ashes of the nation's hero. JOHN MARSHALL, the fourth chief jus- tice of the United States supreme court, was born in Germantown, Virginia, Septem- ber 24, 1755. His father, Colonel Thomas Marshall, served with distinction in the Rev- olutionary war, while he also served from the beginning of the war until 1779, where he became noted in the field and courts martial. While on detached service he at- tended a course of law lectures at William and Mary College, delivered by Mr. Wythe, and was admitted to the bar. The next year he resigned his commission and began his career as a lawyer. He was a distinguished member of the convention called in Virginia to ratify the Federal constitution. He was tendered the attorney-generalship of the United States, and also a place on the su- preme bench, besides other places of less honor, all of which he declined. He went to France as special envoy in 1798, and 'the next year was elected to congress. He served one year and was appointed, first, secretary of war, and then secretary of state, and in 1801 was made chief justice of the United States. He held this high office un- til his death, in 1835. Chief Justice Marshall's early education was neglected, and his opinions, the most valuable in existence, are noted for depth of wisdom, clear and comprehensive reason- ing, justice, and permanency, rather than for wide learning and scholarly construction. His decisions and rulings are resorted to constantly by our greatest lawyers, and his renown as a just judge and profound jurist was world wide. LAWRENCE BARRETT is perhaps known more widely as a producer of new plays than as a great actor. He was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1838, and educated himself as best he could, and at the age of sixteen years became salesman for a Detroit dry goods house. He after- wards began to go upon the stage as a Bupernumerary, and his ambition was soon rewarded by the notice of the management. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 157 During the war of the Rebellion he was a soldier, and after valiant service for his country he returned to the stage. He went to Europe and appeared in Liverpool, and returning in 1869, he began playing at Booth's theater, with Mr. Booth. He was afterward associated with John McCullough in the management of the California theater. Probably the most noted period of his work was during his connection with Edwin Booth as manager of that great actor, and supporting him upon the stage. Mr. Barrett was possessed of the crea- tive instinct, and, unlike Mr. Booth, he sought new fields for the display of his genius, and only resorted to traditional drama in response to popular demand. He preferred new plays, and believed in the encouragement of modern dramatic writers, and was the only actor of prominence in his time that ventured to put upon the stage new American plays, which he did at his own expense, and the success of his experi- ments proved the quality of his judgment. He died March 21, 1891. ARCHBISHOP JOHN HUGHES, a cel- ebrated Catholic clergyman, was born at Annaboghan, Tyrone county, Ireland, June 24, 1797, and emigrated to America when twenty years of age, engaging for some time as a gardener and nurseryman. In 1819 he entered St. Mary's College, where he secured an education, paying his way by caring for the college garden. In 1825 he was ordained a deacon'of the Ro- man Catholic church, and in the same year, a priest. Until 1 838 he had pastoral charges in Philadelphia, where he founded St. John's Asylum in 1829, and a few years later es- tablished the "Catholic Herald." In 1838 he was made bishop of Basileopolis in parti- bus and coadjutor to Bishop Dubois, of New York, and in 1842 became bishop of New York. In 1839 he founded St. John's College, at Fordham. In 1850 he was made archbishop of New York. In 186 1-2 he was a special agent of the United States in Europe, after which he returned to this country and remained until his death, Jan- uary 3, 1864. Archbishop Hughes early attracted much attention by his controver- sial correspondence with Rev. John Breck- inridge in 1833-35. He was a man of great ability, a fluent and forceful writer and an able preacher. RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES was the nineteenth president of the United States and served from 1877 to 1 88 1 . He was born October 4, 1822, at Delaware, Ohio, and his ancestry can be traced back as far as 1280, when Haj-esand Rutherford v.ere two Scottish chieftans fighting side by side with Baliol, William Wallace and Robert Bruce. The Hayes family had for a coat of arms, a shield, barred and sur- mounted by a flying eagle. There was a circle of stars about the eagle, while on a scroll underneath was their motto, ''Recte." Misfortune overtook the family and in 1680 George Hayes, the progenitor of the Ameri- can family, came to Connecticut and settled at Windsor. Rutherford B. Hayes was a very delicate child at his birth and was not expected to live, but he lived in spite of all and remained at home until he was seven years old, when he was placed in school. He was a very tractable pupil, being always very studious, and in 1838 entered Ken3'on College, graduating from the same in 1842. He then took up the study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow at Colum- bus, but in a short time he decided to enter a law school at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for two years he was immersed in the 108 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. study of law. Mr. Hayes was admitted to the bar in 1845 ''^ Marietta, Ohio, and very soon entered upon the active practice of his profession with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont, Ohio. He remained there three years, and in 1849 removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his ambition found a new stimulus. Two events occurred at this period that had a powerful influence on his after life. One was his marriage to Miss Lucy Ware Webb, and the other was his introduction to a Cincinnati literary club, a body embracing such men as Salmon P. Chase, John Pope, and Edward F. Noyes. In 1856 he was nominated for judge of the court of common pleas, but declined, and two years later he was appointed city solicitor. At the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. Hayes was appointed major of the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, June 7. 1S61, and in July the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and October 15, i86i,saw him promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment. He was made colonel of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry, but refused to leave his old comrades; and in the battle of South Mountain he was wounded very severely and was unable to rejoin his regi- ment until November 30, 1862. He had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment on October 15, 1862. In the following December he was appointed to command the Kanawa division and was given the rank of brigadier-general for meritorious services in several battles, and in 1864 he was brevetted major-general for distinguished services in 1864, during which campaign he was wounded several times and five horses had been shot under him. Mr. Hayes' first venture in politics was as a Whig, and later he was one of the first to unite with the Republican party. In 1864 he was elected from the Second Ohio district to congress, re-elected in 1866, and in 1867 was elected governor of Ohio over Allen G. Thurman, and was re-elected in 1869. Mr. Hayes was elected to the presidency in 1876, for the term of four years, and at its close retired to private life, and went to his home in Fremont, Ohio, where he died on January 17, 1893. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN became a celebrated character as the nominee of the Democratic and Populist parties for president of the United States in 1896. He was born March 19, i860, at Salem, Illi- nois. He received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and later on he attended the Whipple Academy at Jacksonville. He also took a course in Illinois College, and after his graduation from the same went to Chicago to study law, and entered the Union College of Law as a student. He was associated with the late Lyman Trumbull, of Chicago, during his law studies, and devoted considerable time to the questions of government. He graduated from the college, was admitted to the bar, and went to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he was married to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Baird. In 1887 Mr. Bryan removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, and formed a law partnership with Adolphus R. Talbot. He entered the field of politics, and in 1888 was sent as a delegate to the state con- vention, which was to choose delegates to the national convention, during which he made a speech which immediately won him a high rank in political affairs. He declined, in the next state convention, a nomination for lieutenant-governor, and in 1890 he was elected congressman from the First district of Nebraska, and was the youngest member of the fifty-scconJ congress. He cham- pioned the Wilson tariff bill, and served COMPE.VDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. 159 three terms in the house of representatives. He next ran for senator, but was defeated by John M. Thurston, and in 1896 he was selected by the Democratic and Populist parties as their nominee for the presidency, being defeated by William McKinley. MARVIN HUGHITT, one of America's famous railroad men, was born in Genoa, New York, and entered the railway service in 1856 as superintendent of tele- graph and trainmaster of the St. Louis, Al- ton & Chicago, now Chicago & Alton Rail- road. Mr. Hughitt was superintendent of the southern division of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1862 until 1864, and was, later on, the general superintendent of the road until 1870. He was then connected with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road as assistant general manager, and re- tained this position until- 1871, when he be- came the general manager of Pullman's Palace Car Company. In 1872 he was made general superintendent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He served during 1876 and up to 1 880 as general manager, and from 1880 until 1887 as vice-presi- dent and general manager. He was elected president of the road in 1887, in recog- nition of his ability in conducting the affairs of the road. He was also chosen president of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- apolis & Omaha Railway; the Fremont, Elk- horn & Missouri Valley Railroad, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, and his services in these capacities stamped hirn as one of the most able railroad mana- gers of his day. JOSEPH MEDILL, one of the most r oce b.-::i'irei iizi rinecj— d«^ days. Stacil pocked op fcj Efse ■■ Tigress-"' oq t&e joch of At' i3~3- Tbe ccaer pcctioa ol ti^e crew- ': bojitS- 2J1C, iitsr J. peruocs «v>vage. «erc pocked sp ii Jrzje, ri";. bjs. wteEr^vessii OLIVER ELLSWORTH. thediErdcfcief fiisoce at tie Unfted Sc?r.-7S.. w^ bora i- WbicSscr. Cocaectio-t. April jjo. 1745- Afrer grxj- ^ rf ng froci Prracecoti, he tL3ok ::3 tie scucrr o£ li«-. aad was la-ensed r^ pt-jcra-e ia r J71. la i J77 be «as ^'ect&i 2s 2. vieiegi^e C3 ; ■ Ee was f--.i:fe ct ■ 5 pCSt-CT- oe ot toe scpceaie --^:es by Wsst^gtca. cs Secweea rfi'y cccii- becicse vicZejirlj t to Piris Si esTCT es- ceeoejl ty :ed *^. M fgffckfe- ci tfee U ~"r . -^ .i s<_it H"s it tie sse ci ^teeit Le sttersd Bcwdacs di^ieitEQesc of HsrraEd Un ^ i _ .^le tiea eateEied the la.'^ oSce of his cncle s.c Bic- goc, iliine, aitd sooa afBsr opesed aa oace for the practice erf law at AngasCa. He was aa i" " ' ::ini hs ward, city attaroey. aac e "Age." a rrrai Eew^epia- ^-. "" wtiich. w:^ coadacted by r Fie *>?-! decrde-d to re- Qoe ot He C HE5TZ5. . LN ARTHUH- r=rsiiy- : tT"r- Ucitea stares, wss , in F: ; it-ty. Va-tioct. Octo- c. I ; - is ecticateci at LsiCti iy. Xe-w Ticfc. frota : with k'£iG.'ar. and ea- c: in te.-.: '.r..g iciiooL After two yeais -t—z tie law o-=ce of Jtidge E. D. New- Ycri, as a sc^ceni. He was co.^fPExn/cjf or BioGJL.4r/n\ opoo a. prc^table 7 r ^ sbottly aftervrards -Cirried tc s. vfiCjtiter d liea- tenant Hessdon. of tb^ Usiied SraEes nsTy. Mrs- Arthcr d-ed sbcrtly beloie hss aarr^in^ non {e~ IP** t , e "^O^ '-.*»' t<;^t ^."■ t" -. iiie o^evaui-e " .AXTcarsof ape of a merchant ship iri the ". In i^oShebecante al:eute:u-.-: States navv. and three veais later was made served widi dnsaKsiiQ ia tS»e Rsiisssy e\pe- ditioiss. Ja^y 1-2. iSi^ fee S££>ed ira^ As^apcfiS^, ia csacostasd of tbe '^CcinsrjDc- - - -----.- ::^jee days w^s 7 "- : " ; a - - ■ 3 of Svie ^fp:f :--er? a^d fee tis. tbe ■^r^t: Txral Febrsrary 15, tSiS- at F^iie M manager fcoc. C-o". ARCCS ALOXZO H.\SXA, feaoES Wc> - , ■ reoi - p-oye c^ tr^e wboo.'esaJe grccerr hc^sse cs HaEca. GarTestsoCv C!c Cok.. his father beisst the senkir member of the Sna. Tine latter died ia i5>6i, and m^ - ^ _. -_.^.-;^ vi^ interest nntil i^S^. :ss w.£s dosed up. 0«r sabject then becasse a me m twr ol "\ - x Ccv. ec^.; . " : -e .>5iv bet v.. »v..F v^ \r ^ wfes c~^;-.j..:o. t^ Company, of CJeveJand. possjdeet of tke 170 COMPEND/L'M OF BIOGRAPIir. Union National Bank, of Cleveland, president of the Cleveland City Railway Company, and president of the Chapin Mining Com- pany, of Lake Superior, he became promi- nently identified with the business world. He was one of the government directors of the Union Pacific Railroad, being appointed to that position in 1S85 by President Cleve- land. Mr. Hanna was a delegate to the na- tional Republican convention of 1884, which was his first appearance in the political world. He was a delegate to the con- ventions of 1888 and 1896, and was elect- ed chairman of the Republican national committee the latter year, and practically managed the campaign of William Mclvin- ley for the presidency. In 1897 Mr. Hanna was appointed senator by Governor Bush- nell, of Ohio, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sherman. GEORGE PEABODY was one of the best known and esteemed of ail philan- thropists, whose munificent gifts to Ameri- can institutions have proven of so much benefit to the cause of humanity. He was born February iS, 1795, at South Danvers, Massachusetts, which is now called Pea- body in honor of him. He received but a meager education, and during his earl}' life he was a mercantile clerk at Thetford, Ver- mont, and Newburyport, Massachusetts. In 1 8 14 he became a partner with Elisha Riggs, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, and in 18 1 5 rhey moved to Baltimore, Mary- land. The business grew to great propor- tions, and they opened branch houses at New York and Philadelphia. Mr. Peabody made several voyages to Europe of com- mercial importance, and in 1829 became the head of the firm, which was then called -Peabody, Riggs & Co., and in 1838 he re- moved to London, England. He retired from the firm, and established the cele- brated banking house, in which he accumu- lated a large fortune. He aided Mr. Grin- nell in fitting out Dr. Kane's Arctic e.xpedi- tion, in 1852, and founded in the same year the Peabody Institute, in his native town, which he afterwards endowed with two hun- dred thousand dollars. Mr. Peabody visited the United States in 1857, and gave three hundred thousand dollars for the establish- ment at Baltimore of an institute of science, literature and fine arts. In 1 862 he gave two million five hundred thousand dollars for the erecting of lodging houses for the poor in London, and on another visit to the United States he gave one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to establish at Harvard a museum and professorship of American archaeology and ethnology, an equal sum for the endowment of a department of physical science at Yale, and gave the "Southern Educational Fund " two million one hundred thousand dollars, besides devoting two hun- dred thousand dollars to various objects of public utility. Mr. Peabody made a final visit to the United States in 1869, and on this occasion he raised the endowment of the Baltimore Institute one million dollars, created the Peabody Museum, at Salem, Massachusetts, with a fund of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, gave sixty thou- sand dollars to Washington College, Vir- ginia; fifty thousand dollars for a "Peabody Museum, " at North Danvers, thirty thousand dollars to Phillips .Academy, Andover; tVYfen- ty-five thousand dollars to Kenyon College, Ohio, and twenty thousand dollars to the Maryland Historical Society. Mr. Peabody also endowed an art school at Rome, in 1868. He died in London, November 4, 1869, less then a month after he had re- turned from the United States, and his COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRAPIir 171 remains were brought to the United States and interred in his native town. He made several other bequests in his will, and left his fatnilv about five million dollars. !\/!.\TTHEW S. QUAY, a celebrated i V 1 public man and senator, was born at Dillsburgh, York county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1833, of an old Scotch-Irish family, some of whom had settled in the Keystone state in 1715. Matthew received a good education, graduating from the Jef- ferson College at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of seventeen. He then traveled, taught school, lectured, and studied law under Judge Sterrett. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, was appointed a prothon- otary in 1855 and elected to the same office in 1856 and 1859. Later he was made lieutenant of the Pennsylvania Re serves, lieutenant-colonel and assistant com- missary-general of the state, private secre- tary of the famous war governor of Pennsyl- vania, Andrew G. Curtin, colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylva- nia Infantry (nine months men), military state agent and held other offices at different times. Mr. Quay was a member of the house of representatives of the state of Pennsylvania from 1865 to 1 868. He filled the olTice of secretary of the commonwealth from 1872 to 1878, and the position of delegate-at- large to the Republican national conventions of 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1888. Hewasthe editor of the "Beaver Radical" and the " Philadelphia Record " for a time, and held many offices in the state conventions and on their committees. He was elected secre- tary of the commonwealth-of Pennsylvania, 1869, and served three years, and in 1885 was chosen state treasurer. In 1886 his great abilities pointed him out as the natural candidate for United States senator, and he was accordingly elected to that posi- tion and re-elected thereto in 1892. He was always noted for a genius for organiza- tion, and as a political leader had but few peers. Cool, serene, far-seeing, resourceful, holding his impulses and forces in hand, he never quailed from any policy he adopted, and carried to success most, if not all, of the political campaigns in which he took part. JAMES K. JONES, a noted senator and political leader, attained national fame while chairman of the national executive committee of the Democratic party in the presidential campaign of 1896. He was a native of Marshall county, Mississippi, and was born September 29, 1839. His father, a well-to-do planter.setiled in Dallas count}', Arkansas, in 1848, and there the subject of this sketch received a careful education. During the Civil war he served as a private soldier in the Confederate army. From 1866 to 1873 he passed a quiet life as a planter, but in the latter year was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law. About the same time he was elected to the .Arkansas senate and re-elected in 1874. In 1877 he was made president of the senate and the following year was unsuccessful in obtaining a nomination as member of con- gress. In 1880 he was elected representa- tive and his ability at once placed him in a foremost position. He was re-elected to congress in 1882 and in 1884, and served as an influential member on the committee of ways and means. March 4, 1885, Mr. Jones took his seat in the United States senate to succeed James D. Walker, and was after- ward re-elected to the same office. In this branch of the national legislature his capa- bilities had a wider scope, and he was rec- 172 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. ognized as one of the ablest leaders of his party. On the nomination of William J. Bryan as its candidate for the presidency by the national convention of the Democratic party, held in Chicago in 1896, Mr. Jones was made chairman of the national com- mittee. THEODORE THOMAS, one of the most celebrated musical directors America lias known, was born in the kingdom of Han- over in 1835, and received his musical educa- tion from his father. He was a very apt scholar and played the violin at public concerts at the age of six years. He came with his parents to America in 1845, and joined the orchestra of the Italian Opera in New York City. He played the first violin in the orchestra which accompanied Jenny Lind in her first American concert. In 1861 Mr. Thomas established the orchestra that be- came famous under his management, and gave his first symphony concerts in New York in 1864. He began his first "summer night concerts" in the same city in 1868, and in 1869 he started on his first tour of the principal cities in the United States, which he made every year for many years. He was director of the College of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, but resigned in 1880, after having held the position for three years. Later he organized one of the greatest and most successful orchestras ever brought together in the city of Chicago, and was very prominent in musical affairs during the World's Columbian Exposition, thereby add- ing greatly to his fame. CYRUS HALL McCORMICK, the fa- mous inventor and manufacturer, was born at Walnut Grove, Virginia, February 15,1 809. When he was seven years old his father invented a reaping machine. It was a rude contrivance and not successful. In 1 83 1 Cyrus made his invention of a reaping machine, and had it patented three years later. By successive improvements he was able to keep his machines at the head of its class during his life. In 1 845 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later located in Chicago, where he amassed a great fortune in manufacturing reapers and harvesting machinery. In 1859 he estab- lished the Theological Seminary of the Northwest at Chicago, an institution for pre- paring young men for the ministry in the Presbyterian church, and he afterward en- dowed a chair in the Washington and Lee College at Lexington, Virginia. He mani- fested great interest in educational and re- ligious matters, and by his great wealth he was able to extend aid and encouragement to many charitable causes. His death oc- curred May 13, 1884. DAVID ROSS LOCKE.— Under the pen name of Petroleum V. Nasby, this well-known humorist and writer made for himself a household reputation, and estab- lished a school that has many imitators. The subject of this article was born at Vestal, Broome county. New York, Sep- tember 30, 1833. After receiving his edu- cation in the county of his birth he en- tered the office of the ' ' Democrat, " at Cort- land, New York, where he learned the printer's trade. He was successively editor and publisher of the ' 'Plymouth Advertiser, " the "Mansfield Herald," the " Bucyrus Journal," and the "Findlay Jeffersonian." Later he became editor of the "Toledo Blade." In i860 he commenced his " Nasby" articles, several series of which have been given the world in book form. Under a mask of misspelling, and ins auaiu*; COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 173 ?,nd humorous style, a keen political satire i.^ couched — a most effective weapon. Ilr. Locke was the author of a num- ber of serious political pamphlets, and later on a more pretentious work, " The Morals of Abou Ben Adhem." As a news- paper writer he gained many laurels and his works are widely read. Abraham Lincoln is said to have been a warm admirer of P. V. Nasby, of " Confedrit X Roads" fame. Mr. Locke died at Toledo, Ohio. February 15, 1S88. RUSSELL A. ALGER, noted as a sol- dier, governor and secretary of war, was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 27, 1836, and was the son of Russell and Caroline (Moulton) Alger. At the age of twelve years he was left an orphan and pen- niless. For about a year he worked for his board and clothing, and attended school part of the time. In 1850 he found a place which paid small wages, and out of his scanty earnings helped his brother and sister. While there working on a farm he found time to attend the Richfield Academy, and by hard work between times managed to get a fair education for that time. The last two years of his attendance at this institu- tion of learning he taught school during the winter months. In 1857 he commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. For a while he found employ- ment in Cleveland, Ohio, but impaired health induced him to remove to Grand Rapids, where he engaged in the lumber business. He was thus engaged when the Civil war broke out, and, his business suf- fering and his savings swept away, he en- listed as a private in the Second Michigan Cavalry. He was promoted to be captain the following month, and major for gallant conduct at Boonesville, Mississippi, July i. 1862. October 16, 1862, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, and in February, 1863, colonel of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He rendered excellent service in the Gettysburg cam- paign. He was wounded at Boonesboro, Maryland, and on returning to his command took part with Sherman in the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. For services ren- dered, that famous soldier recommended him for promotion, and he was brevetted major-general of volunteers. In 1866 Gen- eral Alger took up his residence at Detroit, and prospered exceedingly in his business, which was that of lumbering, and grew quite wealthy. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention, and the same year was elected governor of Michigan. He declined a nomination for re-election to the latter office, in 1887, and was the following year a candidate for the nomination for president. In 1889 he was elected commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, and at different times occupied many offices in other or- ganizations. In March, 1897, President Mcl\inley appointed General Alger secretary of war. CYRUS WEST FIELD, the father of submarine telegraphy, was the son of the Rev. David D. Field, D.D., a Congre- gational minister, and was born at Stock- bridge, Massachusetts, November 30, 1819. He was educated in his native town, and at the age of fifteen years became a clerk in a store in New York City. Being gifted with excellent business ability Mr. Field pros- pered and became the head of a large mer- cantile house. In 1853 he spent about six months in travel in South America. On his return he became interested in ocean teleg- raphy. Being solicited to aid in the con- 174 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. struction of a land telegraph across New Foundland to receive the news from a line of fast steamers it was proposed to run from from Ireland to St. Johns, the idea struck him to carr}' the line across the broad At- lantic. In 1850 Mr. Field obtained aeon- cession from the legislature of Newfound- land, giving him the sole right for fifty years to land submarine cables on the shores of that island. In company with Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, Marshall O. Roberts and Chandler White, he organized a company under the name of the New York, New- foundland & London Telegraph Compan}". In two years the line from New York across Newfoundland was built. The first cable connecting Cape Breton Island with New- foundland having been lost in a storm while being laid in 1855, another was put down in 1856. In the latter year Mr. Field went to London and organized the Atlantic Tele- graph Company, furnishing one-fourth of the capital himself. Both governments loaned ships to carry out the enterprise. Mr. Field accompanied the expeditions of 1857 and two in 1858. The first and second cables were failures, and the third worked but a short time and then ceased. The people of both continents became incredulous of the feasibility of laying a successful cable under so wide an expanse of sea, and the war breaking out shortly after, nothing was done until 1865-66. Mr. Field, in the former year, again made the attempt, and the Great Eastern laid some one thousand two hun- dred miles when the cable parted and was lost. The following year the same vessel succeeded in laying the entire cable, and picked up the one lost the year before, and both were carried to America's shore. After thirteen years of care and toil Mr. Field had his reward. He was the recipient of many medals and honors from both home and abroad. He gave his attention after this to establishing telegraphic communication throughout the world and many other large enterprises, notably the construction of ele- vated railroads in New York. Mr. Field died July 1 1, 1S92. G ROVER CLEVELAND, the twenty- second president of the United States, was born in Caldwell, Essex county, New Jersey, March 18, 1837, and was the son of Rev. Richard and Annie (Neale) Cleve- land. The father, of distinguished New England ancestry, was a Presbj'terian min- ister in charge of the church at Caldwell at the time. When Grover was about three years of age the family removed to Fa\'etteville, Onondaga county, New York, where he attended the district school, and was in the academy for a short time. His father be- lieving that boys should early learn to labor, Grover entered a village store and worked for the sum of fifty dollars for the first year. While he was thus engaged the family re- moved to Clinton, New York, and there young Cleveland took up h's studies at the academ}'. The death of his father dashed all his hopes of a collegiate education, the family being left in straightened circum- stances, and Grover started out to battle for himself. After acting for a year (1S53- 54) as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in the Institution for the Blind at New York City, he went to Buffalo. A short time after he entered the law office of Rogers, Bowen & Rogers, of that city, and after a hard struggle with adverse circumstances, was admitted to the bar in 1859. He be- came confidential and managing clerk (or the firm under whom he had studied, and remained with them until 1863. In the lat- ter year he was appointed district attorney COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 175 of Erie county. It was during his incum- bency of this office that, on being nominated by the Democrats for supervisor, he came within thirteen votes of election, although the district was usuallj' Republican by two hundred and fifty majority. In i866Grover Cleveland formed a partnership with Isaac V. Vanderpoel. The most of the work here fell upon the shoulders of our subject, and he soon won a good standing at the bar of the state. In 1869 Mr. Cleveland associated himself in business with A. P. Laning and Oscar Folsom, and under the firm name of Laning, Cleveland & Folsom soon built up a fair practice. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Cleve- land was elected sheriff of Erie county, an office which he tilled for four years, after which he resumed his profession, with L. K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell as partners. This firm was strong and popular and shortly vvas in possession of a lucrative practice. Mr. Bass retired from the firm in 1879, and George J. Secard was admit- ted a member in 188 1. In the latter year Mr. Cleveland was elected mayor of Buffalo, and in 1882 he was chosen governor by the enormous majority of one hundred and ninety-two' thousand votes. July 11, 1884, he was nominated for the presidency by the Democratic national convention, and in November following was elected. Mr. Cleveland, after serving one term as president of the United States, in 1888 was nominated by his party to succeed himself, but he failed of the election, being beaten by Benjamin Harrison. In 1892, however, being nominated again in opposition to the then incumbent of the presidency, Mr. Har- rison, Grover Cleveland was elected pres- ident for the second time and served for the usual term of four years. In 1897 Mr. Cleveland retired from the chair of the first magistrate of the nation, and in New York City resumed the practice of law, in which city he had established himself in 1889. June 2. 1886, Grover Cleveland was united in marriage with Miss Frances Fol- som, the daughter of his former partner. ALEXANDER WINCHELL, for many years one of the greatest of American scientists, and one of the most noted and prolific writers on scientific subjects, was born in Duchess county, New York, Decem- ber 31, 1 824. He received a thorough col- legiate education, and graduated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connect- icut, in 1847. His mind took a scientific turn, which manifested itself while he was yet a boy, and in 1848 he became teacher of natural sciences at the Armenian Semi- nary, in his native state, a position which he filled for three years. In 1851-3 he oc- cupied the same position in the Mesopo- tamia Female Seminary, in Alabama, after which he was president of the Masonic Fe- male Seminary, in Alabama. In 1853 he became connected with the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, at which institu- tion he performed the most important work of his life, and gained a wide reputation as. a scientist. He held many important posi- tions, among which were the following: Professor of physics and civil engineering at the University of Michigan, also of geology, zoology and botany, and later professor of geology and palseontology at the same insti- tution. He also, for a time, was president of the Michigan Teachers' Association, and state geologist of Michigan. Professor Winchell was a very prolific writer on scien- tific subjects, and published many standard works, his most important and widely known being those devoted to geology. He also contributed a large number of articles to scientific and popular journals. 176 COMPENDIUM OF JJIOGRAPHT. ANDREW HULL FOOTE, of the United States navy, was a native of New England, born at New Haven, Con- necticut, May. 4, 1808. He entered the navy, as a midshipman, December 4, 1822. He slowly rose in his chosen profession, at- taining the rank of lieutenant in 1830, com- mander in 1852 and captain in 1861. Among the distinguished men in the break- ing out of the Civil war, but few stood higher in the estimation of his brother officers than Foote, and when, in the fall of i86"r. he was appointed to the command of the flotilla then building on the Mississippi, the act gave great satisfaction to the service. Although embarrassed by want of navy yards and supplies, Foote threw himself into his new work with unusual energy. He overcame all obstacles and in the new, and, until that time, untried experiment, of creat- ing and maintaining a navy on a river, achieved a success beyond the expectations of the country. Great incredulity existed as to the possibility of carrying on hostilities on a river where batteries from the shore might bar the passage. But in spite of all, Foote soon had a navy on the great river, and by the heroic qualities of the crews en- trusted to him, demonstrated the utility of this new departure in naval architecture. All being prepared, February 6, 1862, Foote took Fort Henry after a hotly-contested action. On the 14th of the same month, for an hour and a half engaged the batteries of Fort Donelson, with four ironclads apd two wooden gunboats, thereby dishearten- ing the garrison and assisting in its capture. April 7th of the same year, after several hotly-contested actions. Commodore Foote received the surrender of Island No. 10, one of the great strongholds of the Confederacy on the Mississippi river. Foote having been wounded at Fort Donelson, and by neglect it having become so serious as to endanger his life, he was forced to resign his command and return home. June 16, 1862, he re- ceived the thanks of congress and was pro- moted to the rank of rear admiral. He was appointed chief of the bureau of equipment and recruiting. June 4, 1863, he was ordered to the fleet off Charleston, to super- cede Rear Admiral Dupont, but on his way to that destination was taken sick at New York, and died June 26, 1863. NELSON A. MILES, the well-known sol- dier, was born at Westminster, Massa- chusetts, August 8,1839. His ancestors set- tled in that state in 1643 among the early pioneers, and their descendants were, many of them, to be found among those battling against Great Britain during Revolutionary times and during the war of 18 12. Nelson was reared on a farm, received an academic education, and in early manhood engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston. Early in 1 86 1 he raised a company and offered his services to the government, and although commissioned as captain, on account of his youth went out as first lieutenant in the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry. In 1 862 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the Sixty-first New York In- fantry. At the request of Generals Grant and Meade he was made a brigadier by President Lincoln. He participated in all but one of the battles of the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. During the latter part of the time, he commanded the first division of the Second Corps. General Miles was wounded at the battles of Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg and Chan- cellorsville, and received four brevets for distinguished service. During the recon- struction period he commanded in North Carolina, and on the reorganization of the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRArHT. 177 regular army he was made colonel of in- fantry. In 1880 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and in 1890 to that of major-general. He successfully con- ducted several campaigns among the In- dians, and his name is known among the tribes as a friend when they are peacefully inclined. He many times averted war with the red men by judicious and humane settlement of difficulties without the military power. In 1892 General Miles was given command of the proceedings in dedicating the World's Fair at Chicago, and in the summer of 1894, during the great railroad strike at the same city, General Miles, then in command of the department, had the disposal of the troops sent to protect the United States mails. On the retirement of General J. M. Schofield, in 1895, General Miles became the ranking major-general of the United States army and the head of its forces. JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH, the great actor, though born in London (1796), is more intimately connected with the Amer- ican than with the English stage, and his popularity in America was almost un- bounded, while in England he was not a prime favorite. He presented " Richard III. " in Richmond on his first appearance on the American stage in 1821. This was his greatest role, and in it he has never had an equal. In October of the same year he appeared in New York. After a long and successful career he gave his final perform- ance at New Orleans in 1852. He con- tracted a severe cold, and for lack of proper medical attention, it resulted in his death on November 30th of that year. He was, without question, one of the greatest tra- gedians that ever lived. In addition to his professional art and genius, he was skilled in languages, drawing, painting and sculp- ture. In his private life he was reserved, and even eccentric. Strange stories are related of his peculiarities, and on his farm near Baltimore he forbade the use of animal food, the taking of animal life, and even the felling of trees, and brought his butter and eggs to the Baltimore markets in person. Junius Brutus Booth, known as the elder Booth, gave to the world three sons of note: Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., the husband of Agnes Booth, the actress; John Wilkes Booth, the author of the greatest tragedy in the life of our nation; Edwin Booth, in his day the greatest actor of America, if not of the world. TAMES MONTGOMERY BAILEY, fa- town (Me.) Journal," which be- came famous throughout the New England states as a leader in the advocacy of Repub- lican principles. About the same time Mr. Dingley began his political career, although ever after continuing at the head of the newspaper. He was soon elected to the state legislature and afterward to the lower house of congress, where he became a prominent national character. He also served two terms as governor of Maine. OLIVER PERRY MORTON, a distin- guished American statesman, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, August 4, 1823. His early education was by private teaching and a course at the Wayne County Seminary. At the age of twenty years he entered the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and at the end of two years quit the college, began the study of law in the office of John New- man, of Centerville, Indiana, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1S47. Mr. Morton was elected judge on the Democratic ticket, in 1852, but on th', passage of the " Kansas-Nebraska Bill " he severed his connection with that party, and soon became a prominent leader of the Re- publicans. He was elected governor of In- diana in 1 86 1, and as war governor became well known throughout the country. He received a paralytic stroke in 1865, which partially deprived him of the use of his limbs. He was chosen to the United States senate from Indiana, in 1867, and wielded great influence in that body until the time of his death, November i, 1877. JOHN B. GORDON, a brilliant Confeder- ate officer and noted senatorof the United States, was born in Upson county, Georgia, February 6, 1832. He graduated from the State University, studied law, and took up the practice of his profession. At the be- ginning of the war he entered the Confederate service as captain of infantry, and rapidly 216 COMI'ENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, commanding one wing of the Confederate army at the close of the war. In 1868 he was Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, and it is said was elected by a large majority, but his opponent was given the ofBce. He was a delegate to the national Democratic conventions in 1868 and 1872, and a presidential elector both years. In 1873 he was elected to the United States senate. In 1886 he was elected governor of Georgia, and re-elected in 1888. He was again elected to the United States senate in 1890, serving until 1897, when he was succeeded by A. S. Clay. He was regarded as a leader of the southern Democ- racy, and noted for his fiery eloquence. STEPHEN JOHNSON FIELD, an illus- trious associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, was born at Iladdam, Connecticut, November 4, 1S16, being one of the noted sons of Rev. D. D. Field. He graduated from Williams College in 1837. took up the study of law with his brother, David Dudley Field, be- coming his partner upon admission to the bar. He went to California in 1849, and at once began to take an active interest in the political affairs of that state. He was elected alcalde of Marysville, in 1850, and in the autumn of the same year was elected to the state legislature. In 1857 he was elected judge of the supreme court of the state, and two years afterwards became its chief justice. In 1863 he was appointed by President Lincoln as associate justice of the supreme court of the United States. During his incuinbenc}', in 1873, he was appointed by the governor of California one of a com- mission to examine the codes of the state and for the preparation of amendments to the same for submission to the legislature. In 1877 he was one of the famous electoral commission of fifteen members, and voted as one of the seven favoring the election of Tilden to the presidency. In 1S80 a large portion of the Democratic party favored his nomination as candidate for the presidency. He retired in the fall of 1897, having served a greater number of years on the supreme bench than any of his associates or predecessors, Chief Justice Marshall coming next in length of service. JOHN T. MORGAN, whose services in the United States senate brought him into national prominence, was born in Athens, Tennessee, June 20, 1824. At the age of nine years he emigrated to Alabama, where he made his permanent home, and where he received an academic education. He then took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He took a leading part in local politics, was a presi- dential elector in i860, casting his ballot for Breckenridge and Lane, and in 1861 was a delegate to the state convention which passed the ordinance of secession. In May, of the same year, he joined the Confederate army as a private in Company I, Cahawba Rifles, and was soon after made major and then lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Regiment. In 1862 he was commissioned colonel, and soon after made brigadier-general and as- signed to the command of a brigade in Vir- ginia. He resigned to join his old regiment whose colonel had been killed. He was soon afterward again marie brigadier-gen- eral and given command of the brigade that included his regiment. After the war he returned to the prac- tice of law, and continued it up to the time of his election to the United States senate, in 1877. He was a presidential elector in 1876, and cast his vote for Tilden and Hendricks. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 217 He was re-elected to the senate in 1883, and again in 1889, and 1895. His speeches and the measures he introduced, marked as they were by an intense Americanism, brought him into national prominence. WILLIAM McKINLEY, the twenty-fifth president of the United States, was born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan- uary 29, 1844. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and received his early education in a Methodist academy in the small village of Poland, Ohio. At the outbreak of the war Mr. McKinley was teaching school, earning twenty-five dollars per month. As soon as Fort Sumter was fired upon he en- listed in a company that was formed in Poland, which was inspected and mustered in by General John C. Fremont, who at first objected to Mr. McKinley, as being too young, but upon examination he was finally accepted. Mr. McKinley was seventeen when the war broke out but did not look his age. He served in the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry throughout the war, was promoted from sergeant to captain, for good conduct on the field, and at the close of the war, for meritorious services, he was brevetted major. After leaving the army Major Mc- Kinley took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar, and in 1869 he took his initiation into politics, being elected pros- ecuting attorney of his county as a Republi- can, although the district was usually Demo- cratic. In 1 876 he was elected to congress, and in a call upon the President-elect, Mr. Hayes, to whom he went for advice upon the way he should shape his career, he was told that to achieve fame and success he must take one special line and stick to it. Mr. McKinley chose tariff legislation and he became an authority in regard to import duties. He was a member of congress for many years, became chairman of the ways and means connnittee, and later he advo- cated the famous tariff bill that bore his name, which was passed in 1890. In the next election the Republican party was overwhelmingly defeated through the coun- try, and the Democrats secured more than a two thirds majority in the lower house, and also had control of the senate, Mr. McKinley being defeated in his own district by a small majority. He was elected gov- ernor of Ohio in 1891 by a plurality of twenty-one thousand, five hundred and eleven, and two years later he was re-elected by the still greater plurality of eighty thou- sand, nine hundred and ninety-five. He was a delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis Re> publican convention in 1892, and was in- structed to support the nomination of Mr. Harrison. He was chairman of the con^ vention, and was the only man from Ohio to vote for Mr. Harrison upon the roll call. In November, 1892, a number of prominent politicians gathered in New York to discuss the political situation, and decided that the result of the election had put an end to Mc- Kinley and McKinleyism. But in less than four years from that date Mr. McKinley was nominated for the presidency against the combined opposition of half a dozen rival candidates. Much of the credit for his suc- cess was due to Mark A. Hanna, of Cleve- land, afterward chairman of the Republican national committee. At the election which occurred in November, 1896, Mr. McKinley was elected president of the United States by an enormous majority, on a gold stand- ard and protective tariff platform. He was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1897, and called a special session of congress, to which was submitted a bill for tariff reform, which was passed in the latter part of July of that vear. 218 COMPEXDIUM OF niOGRAPIIT CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER, known in the literary world as Joaquin Miller, "the poet of the Sierras," was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841. When only about thirteen years of age he ran away from home and went to the mining regions in California and along the Pacific coast. Some time afterward he was taken prisoner by the Modoc Indians and lived with them for five years. He learned their language and gained great influence with them, fight- ing in their wars, and in all modes of living became as one of them. In 1858 he left the Indians and went to San Francisco, where he studied law, and in i860 was ad- mitted to the bar in Oregon. In 1866 he was elected a county judge in Oregon and served four years. Early in the seventies he began devoting a good deal of time to literary pursuits, and about 1874 he settled in Washington, D. C. He wrote many poems and dramas that attracted consider- able attention and won him an e.xtended reputation. Among his productions maybe mentioned "Pacific Poems," " Songs of the Sierras," "Songs of the Sun Lands," ' ' Ships in the Desert, " ' ' Adrianne, a Dream of Italy," "Danites," "Unwritten History," " First Families of the Sierras " (a novel), " One Fair Woman " (a novel), " Songs of Italy," " Shadows of Shasta," "The Gold- Seekers of the Sierras," and a number of others. GEORGE FREDERICK ROOT, a noted music publisher and composer, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on August 30, 1820. While working on his father's farm he found time to learn, unaided, several musical instru- ments, and in his eighteenth year he went to Boston, where he soon found employ- ment as a teacher of music. From 1839 until 1844 he gave instructions in music in the public schools of that city, and was also director of music in two churches. Mr. Root then went to New York and taught music in the various educational institutions of the city. He went to Paris in 1850 and spent one year there in study, and on his re- turn he published his first song, "Hazel Dell." It appeared as the work of " Wur- zel, " which was the German equivalent of his rijme. He was the originator of the normal musical institutions, an"d when the first one was started in New York he was one of the faculty. He removed to Chicago, Illinois, in i860, and established the firm of Root & Cady, and engaged in the publication of music. He received, in 1872, the degree of " Doctor of Music" from the University of Chicago. After the war the firm became George F. Root & Co., of Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Root did much to elevate the standard of inusic in this country by his compositions and work as a teacher. Besides his numerous songs he wrote a great deal of sacred music and pub- lished many collections of vocal and instru- mental music. For many jears he was the most popular song writer in America, and was one of the greatest song writers of the war. He is also well-known as an author, and his work in that line comprises: " ivleth- ods for the Piano and Organ," "Hand- book on Harmony Teaching," and innumer- able articles for the musical press. Among his many and most popular songs of the war time are : ' ' Rosalie, the Prairie-flower, " "Battle Cry of Freedom," " Just Before the Battle," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," " The Old Folks are Gone," "A Hundred Years Ago," "Old Potomac Shore, "and " There's Music in the Air." Mr. Root's cantatas include "The Flower Queen" and "The Haymakers." He died in 1896. FART II. ^?T ^^S^>3 COMFENDIUMs 5-^ OF /qSM^ (rX?7Ta) LOCAL BIOGRArHY ?ii^a OF COLUMBIA. SAUK AND ADAMS COUNTIES, -l^-^WISCONSIN^— ^ i^s^^-s-s^^^^^^^^^^^^a^r^c^s^s^-^'^^^^^^^^'^^^^^fv. OF 4^ LOCAL BIOGRAPHY ox. JAMES TAYLOR LEWIS, LL. D.— Eoremost am< mg the men of Ci)Iumbiacijun- ty, and recognized tliroughout tlie state as one of the most useful and iniluential citizens of Wisconsin, stands tlie venerable ex-governor, James T. Lewis, of Columbus. He may be justly termed one of the fathers of the state, having been close- ly identified with many of its most vital in- terests during the formative period and the Civil war. His distinguished serx'ice in puli- lic life as well as his personal wi>rth make the following history of general interest, n(jt only to the readers of the present day, l)ut to future historians of this section. Air. Lewis was born in Clarendon, New York, October 30, 1819, a son of Shubael and Eleanor (Robertson) Lewis. The mother was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and died October 8, 1854, at the age of forty- two years. The father, a native of Massa- chusetts, was born February 27, 1783, and \\ as a son of Samuel Lewis, whose ancestors located in New England at an early day in the history of this cnuntr}-. Shubael Lewis began life with few advantages, but with a strong iletermination to succeed and a spirit of integrity and enterprse which enaliled liim to acquire a comfijrtaljje estate in New York and to add to the same considerably in \Vis- ci^nsin. After the death of his first wife he was married in New York to ]Miss Parne Nichols, who was a true and devoted mother to her seven step-children. James T. Lewis, our subject, pursued his studies at Clarkson Academy, Monroe coun- ty. New York, and Clinton Seminary with the view of entering Hamilton College, but after C()mpleting the course at the seminary he abandoned the original project by his fa- ther's advice, and in 1842 commenced the study of law with (j(A'ernor Selden Clark- son, of New Y(jrk. L"i)on completing his studies, in 1845. ^^^ came to Columlnis, Wis- consin, and was admitted to practice before the LTnited States circuit court in the terri- tory of W'isconsin, and later before the state supreme court. Soon after locating here he became actively identified with public affairs and filled the offices of district attornev and countv judge. He was also a member of 222 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY the con\-eiition whicli adopted the present constitution of the state, December 15, 1847. In 1852 Mr. Lewis was a member of the General Assembly from Columbia county and the following year he was electetl to the state senate. He served as lieutenant gov- ernor for two years, beginning in January, 1854. In the fall of 1861 he was elected secretary of state, receiving every vote in Columbus cast for that oflice, and two years later was elected governor, receiving the largest majority ever given a governor of Wisconsin up to 1896. His administration was characterized by economy, activity and justice, and he was especially active in rais- ing and equipping troops for the army and looking after their comfort while in the field. He visited many camps and hospitals and se- cured from the surgeon general of the United States an order transferring sick and wound- ed soldiers from Wisconsin to hospitals with- in the state. By this means many lives were saved and those whose recovery was impos- sible were made more comfortable. Gov- ernor Lewis also assisted in establishing a home for soldiers' orphans. He secured the correction of an error in the state's quota of troops by which the number was reduced about four thousand. He declined the usual appropriation of governor's con- tingent fund and managed the affairs of the state in a judicious and economical manner, worthy of emulation by some latter day statesmen. Upon the expira- tion of his term, however, he positively de- clined a renomination. On the 23d of July, 1846, Governor Lewis married Aliss Orlena M. Sturges, a daughter of David Sturges, a prominent mer- chant of Clarendon, New York, and they are the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter, namely: Selden J., an at- torney of Vermillion, South Dakota; Charles R., who is employed in the city ticket office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road at Minneapolis; and Annie L., wife of W. F. Dudley, assistant general auditor for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, residing at Evanston, 111. Mrs. Lewis is a most estimable lady and one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Columbus, which the family also attend. Until the beginning of the Civil war Governor Lewis was a stanch advocate of Democratic principles, but when the southern states attempted to secede, he took a decided stand in support of the government and was elected secretary of state on the Republican ticket. Ever since he has affiliated with that party, and has been one of its stanch sup- porters. One of his characteristic expres- sions while governor was "He who is not a faithful friend to the government of his country in this trying hour is no friend of mine," and he has ever been acknowledged one of the most patriotic and loyal citizens of the state or nation. Since his retirement from public life he has lived in his old-fash- inned residence at Columbus, amid rural antl picturesque surroundings, where he dispenses a hearty hospitality to his numerous visitors. He has always been a liberal supporter of ed- ucational and philanthropic institutions for some years, devoting most of his income to thatl object. In 1864 Lawrence Uni- \-ersity conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. A few years ago Gov- ernor Lewis made a journey around the world, visiting the principal countries and cities of the orient and collecting many in- teresting views and curiosities from those lands. After a pure, honorable and useful life, actuated by unselfish motives, prompted by patriotism and guided by truth and jus- tice, he may in his declining age rest assured that the people of this state are not unmind- ful of those who have labored for their in- terests. COMPENDIUM Of BIOGRAPHY 1^23 A TRUE COPY OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF GENERAL GUPPEY. "General Josluui J. Giippey, Portage, \\'iscuiisin, member of Rousseau Post, Xo. 14, G. A. R., son of John and Hannah (Dame) Guppey, was born August 2y, 1820, at Dover, New Hampshire, and is of English extraction. "Joshua Guppey, the founder of the American branch of tlie family, emigrated in early youth, about the year 1720, from southwest England to America, settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, married there and (lied there before reaching middle age. His SL'U, Cajitain James CJuppey, was a sea officer and commanded a United States naval \-essel in the war of the Revolution. John Guppey, son of Captain James Guppey, was a wealthy farmer and much respected business man, but never held any public position. "General Guppey graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1843. I''' '^'s senior year he was captain of the 'Dartmouth Phalanx,' the college military company. He studied law in Dover, New Hampshire, and was ad- mitted to the bar in April, 1846, and in Sep- tember following he settled in Columljus, Wisconsin, in the practice of his profession and in doing a general land agency business. He remained there until 185 1, wlien he re- moved to Portage, in the same county, which is still his home. He is in good circumstan- ces, and has a beautiful homestead of fifty acres on Silver Lake. In February, 1847, he was appointed colonel of jNIilitia. In September, 1849, '^^ was appointed Judge of Probate. He has six times been elected County Judge for terms of four years each, commencing, respectively, January i, 1850, 1854, 1866, 1870, 1874 and 1878. From 1858 to 1 86 1 he was school superintendent of the city of Portage, and again from 1866 to 1872. His elections to these offices were usually without opposition. "In 1862 he was the Democratic candi- date for congress in the Second Wisconsin district, and was defeated l)y only 2,000 votes, the usual Repulilican majority being about 7.000. In 1868 he became a Repub- lican, and has ever since acted w:th that l)arty. He was never \'ery acti\'e in politics. "September 13, 1861, he was commis- sioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Tenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served under General O. M. Mitchell, in all his campaigns of 1861 and 1862 in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alaliama. "July 17, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel of the Twenty-third Regiment, Wis- consin Infantry, and was with it in actual command in the iirst assault on \'icksburg, I^ecember, 1862, under General Sherman; also in the assault and capture of Post Ar- kansas, January 11, 1863; and at the battle of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hills and Black River Bridge. In all these bat- tles his regiment behaved with marked brav- ery, and the official report of the capture of I'ost Arkansas states that a part of the rebel right was 'djiMven in by a charge of the 1 wenty-third Wisconsin, Colonel Guppey.' "Colonel Guppey was also in command of his regiment in the assault at Vicksburg in May, 1863, and in the siege operations re- sulting in the capture of that stronghold, July 4, 1863. After this capture, his regi- ment with the Thirteenth Army Corps, to \\hich it belonged, was transferred to the Department of the Gulf. "On Novemljer 3, 1863, the Fourth Division, in command of General Bur])ridge, Vv'as attacked by an overwhelming force of rebels at Carrion Crow or Ba_\'ou Corbeau, near Opelousas, Louisiana, and the battle of Grand Coteau was fought. In this bat- tle the Twenty-third W^isconsin, Colonel Guppey, was held in reser\-e. When it came its turn to take the brunt of the battle, says the Cincinnati Commercial, 'this excellent 224 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. regiment, animated l)y its brave Colonel, lielcT the enemy in check for a short time, de- livering its fire with deadly effect. " 'Here Colonel Guppey was wounded (just below the knee of the left leg), and subsequently taken prisoner. The man who shot him was not thirty feet from him at the time. But the Twenty-third, too, had to gi\'e way. The odds were too great for human effort to ox'ercome. " 'The Colonel commanded his men fur some time after he was shot.' Mr. Greslev, in his '.Vmerican Conflict,' when describing this battle says : 'Our right, thus suddenly assailed in great force and with intense fury, was broken, and was saved from utter distruction by the de\oted bravery of the Twenty-third \\'isconsin and the efficient service of Xims battery.' Colonel Guppey was treated kindly while a prisoner, and was exchanged in January, 1864. He was soon after detailed by General Banks as President of a Military Commission for the examination of officers in the Thirteenth Army Corps. "In the summer of 1864 Colonel Guppey was assigned to the command of a brigade, and was in active service till the close of the v^-ar, all the way frcjm I\Iol:)ile Bay, Alabama, to Paducah, Kentucky, and was Post Com- mander at the latter place when the war endeil. On the 15th of June, 1865, Colonel Guppey was commissioned Brigadier Gen- eral of Volunteers by brevet, for gallant and meritorious services during the war. His regiment was mustered out of service July 4, 1865, and had an enthusiastic reception on reaching Madison, Wisconsin, July i6Lh. (_)n the first of January, 1866, he again en- tered upon his duties as county judge, to which office he had been elected while sew- ing in the army. "In January, 18S2, at the close of his sixth term as county judge, on accoimt of impaired health from wuunds, and from rheumatism contracted while in the army, General 'Guppey retired to private life, and since that date has given most of his time to his own affairs — excepting business from a few of his old clients only. "He was never married; but notwith- standing that ill fortune, antl his suffering from rheumatism he retains his old time cheerfulness of spirit and finds much pleas- lu'c in the (|uiet days of his old ago." He died at Portage, \\'isciinsin, Decem- ber 8, 1S93. M. T. Alverson, Executor of the Estate of Joshua J. Guppey. HON. SOLOX WESLEY PIERCE. Hon. Solon ^^'esley Pierce, for more than forty years identified with the public affairs of Adams county, Wisconsin, is a resi- dent of the city of Friendship, and the an- nals of his county could not be compiled without frequent reference to his name and deeds. Solon Wesley Pierce is a native of Xew '^'ork, Ijorn in the town of Yorkshire, Catta- raugus county, March 7, 1831, the son of Daniel and Adeline (DeMott-Brunson) Pierce. Daniel Pierce is supposed to ha\e been a native of Massachusetts, and was of English lineage. His ancestors located near Marblehead in the early days of the Massa- chusetts colony, and the members of this family were active in the public affairs of the great commonwealth for many genera- tions. The grandfather of our subject, John Pierce, had charge of a military school in Marblehead for some years, and later became a Methodist minister, and removed to Xew York, where he died. Daniel Pierce fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer, and died in Rochester, Xew York, in 1843, ^t the age of fort}--fi\-e years. Our subject's mother, who later married James W. Xorris, lived COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 225 for many years at Nunda, Livingston coun- ty, New York, where she died at the age of eighty years. Iler fatlier, Hosea Brunson, was a veteran of the war of 1812. serving in a New York regiment. If is family were of Scandinavian origin. His death occurred at Brighton, New York. Solon Wesley Pierce received his pri- mary education in the public schools of Rochester, then took a course in the Lima College, and later at Menden Academy, Menden, New ^'nrk. He then became a stationary engineer, continu- ing in that calling for si.x years. Li 1854 he came to Wisconsin, and located at Cas- cade (now White Creek), Adams county. He had taken u;) the study of law before leaving New York, and he taught school for several years. In 1.S57 he removed to Friendship, and was admittetl to the bar in 1858, since which time he lias been in the practice of his profession. He instituted the first gerrymander suit in the state of \\'isconsin, in January, 1892, having pre- viously drafted a resolution wh'ich was adopted by the lioard of supervisors of Adams count}", authorizing such action. His position was x'indicateil liy the sujireme ccurt, which declared the appnrtionment unconstitutional, antl ordered a re-appor- tionment. At the age of thirt}- years he was elected district attorr.ey (jf the county. an lead, and after their money was spent in foolish tligging they enlisted for the Mex- ican war. But the companv was not ac- , cepted. Our subject then went to Dodge- \-ille, anil soon entered the oflice of Strong i!\_ .\])l)ott, attorneys, at Alineral Point, and began the study of law. He was admitted at the March term in 1X47 to practice law, and in June of the same year went to Baraboo, \,hich had Ijeen located as the county seat of Sauk county. The country was a wilder- ness and but little land was cleared. Four saw mills were running and the settlers were few, and not permanenth- settled. Our subject was a \\ big and estal)lished the newspaper "Republic," which isstill running, Ijut in other hands. He was the first attor- ne\' locatetl at Baraboo, and erected the first office of the town, and was attorney and land agent. There was not much law practice tc attentl, and he spent the greater part of his time locating land, and did more of that COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY 231 jjrolialily llian any other nian ut tliat reg'ion. He continued the paper about six or eight years, and later purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, whicli liad been partially improved, and he erected a commo- ilious residence, large barn, and made other permanent improvements. In 180 1 he en- listed in the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and was elected first lieutenant of his company, and assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He was in numerous engagements, including Kai)pahannock, Gainesville, second battle of ilull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. He received a slight wound on the forehead, and at Antietam his right foot was taken off by a shell, while he was acting as captain, and after the battle he remained at a pri\-ate liouse eight weeks before he could lie re- moved to Georgetown lnjspital. All but his heel bone was taken from the foot and he was rendered a cripple for life. After abont three months he went home and with the aid of crutches was able to walk some. As soon as he was able he was given a recruit- ing office and continued thus for some time, and later was given a major's commission and again entered the service in the Forty- ninth Wisconsin Infantry. He v.as as- signed to St. Louis and Rolla, Missouri, where he remained a short time and was ap- pointed on the court martial service at St. Louis, remaining thus until November, 1865, when he returned home as lieutenant- colonel. He soon after established an in- dependent newspaper, and in 1867 was ap- pointed postmaster at Baraboo, which he held about sixteen years. He has now re- tired from active business, and devotes his attention to looking after his property inter- ests, of which he owns consideral)le in Baraboo. Colonel Xoyes married Miss Lucinda Barnes, in Vermont, in June, 1848. Mrs. Noyes was the daughter of Captain Joel Barnes, of Vermont. His father was Major Daniel Barnes, of the Revolutionary war. Joel Barnes settled in Wisconsin with his family in 1854, and engaged in farnn'ng; there his wife ^\.:^\. and the last three \'ears of his life lie found a coml'ortable home with Colonel and Mrs. Noyes. He died about 1870, imd was the father of the following children: Harry, an ex-assemblyman; Lucy, now Mrs. Goodman; Leonard, of Iowa; and Lucinda, wife of our subject, b'our chil- dren were born to Colonel and AL's. Noyes, as follows: Clara L., deceased, who mar- ried Judge Huntington, of Green Bay, and M^ho left five children; Walter W., justice of the peace in Baraboo; .\rthur H., for- merly a prominent attorne)- of Minneapolis, VA)\\ one of the feH COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 239 barked in business on bis own account. This relation continued for one year, when he purchased the interest of his partner and has since carried on the business alone with marked success. In July, 1884, his plant was destroyed by hre, and until his present large brewery was completed the following year he handled Milwaukee beer. His plant has a capacity of 5,000 barrels per annum and he furnishes employment to four men. A view of his plant forms one of the illustra- tions of this volume on another page. In 1 88 1 Mr. Effinger was ruiited in mar- riage with Miss Bertha ]\Iilke, a native of Pommerin, Germany, and to them have been born five children, namely : Bertha, Martha, Lilly, Frederick Carl and Ferdinand Joseph. The family attend the Lutheran church, and Mr. Effinger holds membership in the An- cient Order of United Workmen. He is not identified with any political party, and is now most creditably and acceptably serving his second term as supervisor from the third ward of Baraboo. He is a prominent and active member of the Baraboo Mannerchoir, was one of the prime movers in its organiza- tion, and has been very instrumental in mak- ing it one of the leading mannerchoirs in this part of the state. HON. WILLIAM OWEX, Deceased. Hon William Owen, deceased, will be long remembered as one of the most broad minded and public spirited citizens of Columbia county. The record of his life betokens an intelligent devotion to the welfare of the community with which he was identified, though his personal interests might sometimes have been better served by pursu- ing a different course. He was a prime mover in securing a number of public im- provements, the advantages of which are now unquestioned, but which recjuired con- siderable agitation to secure their adoption. He was the oldest son of John and ]Mar- garet Owen, the history of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this volume, and was born in the village of Llanelltyd, Whales, September 10, 1825. His death occurred in the town of Caledonia, Columbia county, Wisconsin, August 21, 1894. His educa- tion was of a rather rudimentary character, but he was an extensive reader, keeping well in touch with the leading questions of the day, and forming decided opinions on the various public questions which arose from time to time. He had marked taste for lit- erary work and was a frequent contributor to current publications, including several of the leading Welsh journals issued in the United States. For diversion he translated a number of articles from Welsh to English and others from English into the Welsh language. Though he reached his majority about the same time the family located in this county, he continued to live with his parents for several years, assisting in the dififerent kinds of labor necessary to the im- provement of the frontier farm. As lum- ber was one of the first things needed he spent one winter with his brothers and some of their neighbors in getting out timber on the Yellow river. Up to that time no one had ever attempted to run a raft through the Wisconsin dells, but, having had some ex- perience in navigation on the Welsh coast, he did not hesitate to make the attempt and successfully piloted his lumber to its desti- nation near his home, where the most of it was shaved into shingles and used to roof the houses of the early settlers in that neigh- borhood. His business capacity soon began to attract the attention of his neighbors and in 1849 he was elected the first school super- intendent of the town of Dekorra (which then included Caledonia) and also served as one of the first justices of the peace. W'hile filling the first named position he organized six district schools. 240 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY In 1852 Mr. Owen was elected register of deeds and took up liis residence in Portage. He filled the office for four years and soon after removed to the \-illage of Cambria where he dealt in grain and lumber for al.iout nine years, four years of this time officiating as station agent at that place. He then en- gaged in farming and hop culture in the town of Randolph for a few years, after wdiich he returned to Caledonia and spent the balance of his life upon a farm, continuing to man- ifest a keen interest in every important public enterprise. He was always a stanch sup- porter of Republican principles and in 1865 was elected by that party to a seat in the state assembly. In 1870 he was appointed to tak^^ the United States census in four townships, and in 1880 performed the same duty for the town of Caledonia. He was instrumental in promoting many improvements in the high- ways of the town. One of his first official acts was the laying out of the road along the south side of the Baraboo river, between "The Narrows" and the "Welsh Bridge." He ^^■as one of the organizers of the com- pany which finally secured the construction of the present bridge across the Wisconsin river at Portage and served as treasurer of the company for a time. He secured a spe- cial act of the legislature (drafted by him- self J authorizing the use of the ■"Swanip Land Funtls" due from the state to the town of Caledonia, for the purpose of building a lexee along the Wisconsin ri\er. and it was chiefly due to his influence that the fund was finally utilized for that purpose, thereby pro- tecting several thousand acres of land from overflow and adding immensely to their value. All these improvements were accom- plished in spite of the apathy and. in some cases, the positix'e opposition of many of the ])eople who were most benefited 1)_\' them. He was also one of the first champions of the project to organize the "Leech Creek and Lower Baraboo Drainage District." It was ascertained that by cutting one mile of ditch the length of the Baraboo river between "the narrows" and its mouth could be reduced fi'om twenty-two miles to only eleven miles antl the water level of the whole valley would thereby be lowered about three feet, which would be of incalculable benefit to the adjacent property. Owing to a technicality, the idea failed of realization at the time but agitation of the project has recently been re- vi\ed and it promises to be eventually carried out by private enterprise. His enthusiasm in behalf of publk improvements sometimes proved disastrous to his private interests and he never fully recovered from the financial embarassments which resulted from mort- gaging his farm to promote the building of the Milwaukee & LaCrosse railroad through the county. The social and religious sides of his na- ture were amply developed. He was one of the workers in the Calvinistic Methodist church and ^vas known throughout the sur- rounding country as an organizer of Sabbath schools. He hail a natural talent for music which he took pains to cultivate and de- lighted to gratitV. Few instruments were to be found when he came to the county, but he was ready with his "tuning fork" on every occasion to pitch the key and lead the vocal melody January i, 1853, Mr. Owen was married to i\Iargaret, daughter of John W. and Laura ( Price) Jones. This lady, who is still active in pursuit of the duties of life, was born at Bronyfoel, Parish of Llangelynin, Merion- ethshire, Wales. John W. Jones came to this country with his family in 1851 and settled in the towii of Randolph, Columbia county, where he gained quite a reputation on ac- ciiunt of his surgical skill. He died there April 4, 1868, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife reached the age of eighty-four years, passing away March 20, 1889. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 241 Owen, named as follows, their homes being in Columbia county, unless otherwise noted : John Gwillym ; Edwin Caradoc and Edwena Esellt, twins; Aneurim, of Langford, South Dakota; William Salisbury, in Chicago; David Garonwy, at Blue Earth City, Min- nesota ; Owen Jones ; Merrion Rhydderch, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Laura Maggie; and Edward Grant. MAIiCUS ALEXANDER WARREN. Marcus Alexander ^^^arren, president of the First National Bank of Baraboo, and one of the most prominent citizens of that vicinity, is a native of Wisconsin and has spent most of his life in Sauk county. He is the oldest son of Thompson M. and Cath- arine (McKennan) Warren. Thompson ^L Warren was born in the state of Maine, but while a young man went to New York City and carried on a book store for some time. Li 1845 he came to Wisconsin, locating at JNlineral Point where he was joined by his brothers, Dennis and Andrew. They formed a partnership under the name of Warren Brothers, and did an extensive trading busi- ness in general mercliandise and lumber with marked success. Andrew Warren, the only survivor of this firm, now resides in Chicago. After spending several years at Mineral Point, Thompson AL Warren re- moved to Dane county. He entered large tracts of land near the city of Madison and engaged in farming on a large scale. He improved this property and it rapidly in- creased in value until he sold it at a good profit in 1867 and removed to Baraboo. Upon becotning a citizen of this place he displayed the same enterprising spirit which had characterized his previous ventures and began to exert himself toward the upbuild- ing and development of the town, which was then but a struggling village. Being of a speculative turn of mind and possessing con- siderable foresight, he did not hesitate to invest his means where more timid men would have held aloof, and continued to prosper, accunudating a large estate. Among the enterprises which he established ma\' be mentioned Hotel Warren, built in 1877. It is a substantial three-story stone building and continues to be the leading hos- telry of the town. In 1886 he organized the First National Bank, of which he was pres- ident until his death and which has always been one of the most sub- stantial financial institutions of Sauk county. After a long and useful ca- reer his death occurred February 26, 1893, ac the age of nearly eighty years. His ven- erable widow is still a resident of Baraboo. She was born in Herkimer county. New York, and is the mother of five children : Marcus A. ; Minnie, Mrs. J. Hoggins, of Chicago, Illinois; Thompson j\I., Jr., now deceased, a former ranchman of South Da- kota; Wm. A., cashier of the First National Bank of Baraboo; and Isabel, Mrs. L. E. Hoyt, of Baraboo. IMarcus A. Warren was born on the farm i:i Dane cuunty, Wisconsin, May 2^, ^^S7- He was ten years old when the family lo- cated in Baraboo and has therefore been a resident of that thriving city for more than thirty years. After leaving the Baraboo high school he took a course at the State University in Madison. He assisted his fa- tlier in various ways, acquiring a good un- derstanding of business aft'airs, and in 1889 embarked in business on his own account, taking charge of the electric light plant, since merged into the Baraboo Gas & Elec- tric Light Company. Upon the death of his father he was elected president of the First National Bank and has ever since been at the head of that corporation. Besides other \aluable prop- 242 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. erty, he is the individual owner of Hotel Warren. Believing that the precepts and principles of the Republican party embody the best interests of the nation, he gives that organization his hearty support but does not engage in active politics. He was happily married May 28, 1888, to Miss Mary R. Willott, a native of Boone county, Illinois, who has been a resident of Sauk county from early childhood. They are the parents of one daughter, Lucile. ,Mi's. Warren is a communicant of the Epis- copal church and the social connections of the familv are all that could be desired. HON. WILLIAM HENRY PROCTOR. Hon. William Henry P.roctor, widely known as one of the most prosperous and enterprising farmers of the town of Foun- tain Prairie, Columbia county, is also equal- ly and as readily recognized as one of the most representative citizens of the county. Modest and unassuming in his personal habits and ciiaracter, he is yet so able and worthy that it somehow seems as a matter of course that he should come to the front on every occasion that demands clear and clean manhood. Pie is a noble type of the best American citizenship, and his name adorns these pages, not for great deeds and wide activities, but for straightforward hon- esty, moral cleanness, and sweet, wholesome living in the community in which his long and useful life has been passed. Mr. Proctor was born October 19, 1827, in Cavendish, Vermont, and inherits the best traditions of a long and illustrious New England lineage. His maternal grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army at Lexington and Bunker Hill, and his paternal great-grandfather also participated in the same glorious struggle. His parents were Asa and Lorena Proctor, both resi- dents of Cavendish, Windsor county, Ver- mont, at the time when the subject of this article was ushered into this workl. In the same house the senior Proctor was also born and it was associated with the family for- tunes for many years. Lorena Proctor was a native of Mt. Plolly, Rutland county, Vermont. The or'ginal Proctor is said to have come into New England from Scotland, but ex- Secretary Proctor, perhaps the most conspic- uous member of the clan, was accustomed to look to England for the primal springs of the family name and fortune. English or Scotch, however, the family lineage is one (.)f which the present generation may well be proud. Asa Proctor was usually known as Captain Proctor, probably because of his soldierly bearing, which was his by hered- ity. His father served in both the army and the navy of the United States, and while yet a boy he heard the cannon roar in the dis- tance at the battle of Plattsburg. With his wife and family he left Vermont in 1836, and following a great tide of western immigra- tion found a home for several years in Schoolcraft, Michigan. In 1844 he moved on to a new home in what was then the terri- tory of Wisconsin, and, settling upon a gov- ernment claim of one hundred and twenty acres, made it his home for life. He died August 30, 1848, at the early age of fifty years, and his wife died on the same farm October 13, 1855, when fifty-five years old. They were the parents of five children, two (if whom died in infancy, and one after at- taining maturity. Ellen Lorette was twice married and died in Texas many years ago. Mrs. Stillman R. Dix is now living in Mitch- ell, South Dakota, and, with the subject of this writing, constitutes the only surviving members of the family. When the Proctor family came to Michi- gan, William Henry was but a lad of nine COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 243 years. He attended school in Michigan, but after their removal to Wisconsin he was able to attend only a term at a private school at Aztalan. Upon his parents' death the farm on which they were living passed into his possession; and very soon occurred his wedding with Angeline Elizabeth Lashier. They were married November 8, 1857, and the union has proved in every way a most ideal and happy one. .She is a lady of many excellent traits of character, and has helped to make her husband's home the center of many wide and distant friendships. She is the second daughter of Samuel and Mary (Durfee) Lashier, of Fall River, Wiscon- sin. Her father was of Hollandish extrac- tion, while her mother was 1x)rn in Massa- chusetts. He was a carpenter and built many of the houses in Fall River and vicin- ity. He was also a wagon maker and is remembered as a capable workman and a thoroughly honest and reliable man. He died in 1881, survi\-ing the loss of his wife only one year. Mr. and JMrs. Proctor lia\e continued to make their home on the old farm. Here they have reared a family of eight children, and here they have written a history of can- dor and neighborly kindness, honesty and fair dealing, high moral character, and loyal- ty to the ideal. Their oldest child, Nettie Angeline, was born in 1S58, and died March 23, 1876. Ellen Lorena, February 14, i860, is living at home. John Samuel, September 30, 1861, lives in Mnnieapolis and is a mem- ber of a firm having very extensive trade in iron goods. William Rush, July i, 1863, lives at Sedalia, Missouri, where he is a train dispatcher for the Missouri Pacific rail- road. Mary Elizabeth, February 11, 1868, is the wife of A. S. Ralph, of Columbus. Walter Asa, June 21, 1874, is a graduate of the Delafield Military Academy, and served in the army used to police the city of Manila in the Spanish-American war. While there he learned the Spanish language, and was a court interpreter for some time; Clara May, February, 1875, a teacher in the Fall River school; Alfred Henry, March 17, 1878, is a graduate of the Columbus high school, and is now assisting in the management of the home farm. Adelaide Lulu, February 20, 1878, is now in attendance at the same school. Mr. Proctor is an ardent Republican, and he has served his town many times as chair- man of the town bnard of Fountain Prairie. In 1882 he served as a member of the state assembly from the second district of Colum- bia county. He has always taken a lively interest in political affairs, and his influence is much sought. He was an alternate dele- gate to the Philadelphia convention that nom'inated Mcfelnley and 'Roosevelt. He is a member of the Columbus Universalist church, as are most of his family. He is an honest and upright citizen, careful and con- scientious in the performance of every duty. Recording his genuine worth and real manli- ness is no perfunctory task to the editorial pen. The writer (Dinsmore) has tender memories of days and scenes long gone, and has often communed with him heart to heart. He has seen into the soul of the man, and bears testimony to its nobilit}'. PLATON GARFIELD COLLIPP. Platon Garfield Collipp, one of the lead- ing attorneys of Friendship, and publisher of the "Adams County Reporter," is a young man whose ability and intelligent worth are recognized by every citizen of Adams coun- ty. He has already filled some of the most im- portant offices within the gift of the people of his community, and has faithfully discharged the duties of his commission in every in- stance, and is one of the public-spirited men of W^isconsin. 244 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Collipp was bom in Portage, Wis- consin, May 9, 1869, and was the son of Con- rad and Louisa (Slifer) Collipp. Conrad Collipp was a native of Obersuhl, Hesse-Cas- sel., Germany. His father died in his native land, but his mother passed away in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. Conrad Collipp learned the trade of carpet weaving in his native land, and about 1842 came to America, and worked at his trade in Phila- delphia several years, and then went to Chi- cago, and in 1848 came to Wisconsin. He settled at Portage where he engaged in farm- ing on land which is now within the city lim- its. After a few years he started a Isrick yard, and for a number of years was thus en- gaged, and was successful, but afterward rented the establisjiment. He served as county treasurer and was active in matters of public import. He was a consistent mem- ber of the German Methodist church. Mrs. Collipp is a resident of Portage, aged sixty- nine years, where her husband passed away in 1883, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Collipp was born near Pittsburg, Pennsyh-ania, and was the daughter of Samuel Slifer, a native of German}-, and a cari^enter by trade. He settled at Portage in 1848. where he re- mained until his death. 1 he original name of the family was Schlifer. Platon G. Collipp completed the course in the Portage high school, and then spent two years in the English course at the Wiscon- sin Universitv. He then entered the freight office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at Portage, remaining there until 1896. In the fall of that year he entered the law department of the univer- sity, and after spending one year and three months at the study was admitted to the bar at Milwaukee in December, 1897. He spent three months in the office of J. H. Rogers, in Portage, and then established his present practice at Friendship. July 8, 1898, in company with L. L. Ketchum, he began the publication of the "Adams County Reporter," and in November of that year be- came its sole proprietor. During the fall of 1898 he was elected district attornev, hav- ing been unanimously nominated at the Re- publican con\-ention. He is also engaged in the real estate and insurance business to some extent. His practice is a growing one and he is destined to become one of the fore- most men in his state. Wherever he has made his home he has many friends, and has been called upon to serve in various offices of local importance. \\'hile a resident of Port- age he served two vears as alderman, and in 1894 was nominated for city treasurer, Init the party opposition caused his defeat. Mr. Collipp was married September 27, 1899, to Miss Agnes A. Fulton, daughter of William and Agnes (More) Fulton, resi- dents of Portage, Wisconsin. Mr. Collii^p is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Portage, and also of McOueeney Lodge, No. 104, Knights of Pythias. CAL\"L\ E. REED, Dece.vsed. Of the worthy pioneers who lead the way of ci\-ilization into the wilderness too much cannot be said, and among those \vho ga\-e the best years of their lives to the development of the re- sources of Adams county, Calvin E. Reed must be mentioned with much praise. Born in Berkshire, iMassachusetts, December 15, 1815, and rearetl to maturit}- in Li\-ing- ston count}-. New York, whither he had ac- companietl his parents when a child, he de- terniiiied earl}- in his career to seek fortune in the new west, and in 1845 'i*^ 's*'^ '^'^ New York home and came to Wisconsin. He lo- cated in Rock county, where he purchased land of the govennnent, improved it, and held it for ten years. He then, in 1856, nioved to White Creek, Adams countv. Wis- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 245 consin, and purchased a farm of about one hundred and twenty acres of land on the site of the present village. He erected a good house, which now stands within the village limits; also good barns and other farm buildings. The residence is now oc- cupied by his daughter, ]Mrs. William Fisher. Mr. Reed was a man of great force of char- acter, business ability, strictest integrity, and a Christian of devout princiiiles. By good example and liberal cducatinn he did much to maintain Christian institutions and works iti the community. He was a member nf the Baptist church, but his Christianit)- was broad and generous. In politics he was not a strong partisan, but took great interest in the affairs of good government, local as well as national, and was always found support- ing those men and measures which he be- lieved were calculated for the good of the people. He served ior eighteen years as postmaster, and his duty was thoroughly and conscientiously performed during the whole of that long period. His death was seriously felt by the en- tire community as an irreparable loss, and the heartfelt sympathies of all were extended to the bereaved family, each member of the community- feeling it as a personal 1l>ss. He was the counselor and friend of all in dis- tress, a genial neighbor, and kintl and indul- gent parent and de\-oted husband. He died at White Creek, May 9, 1895. Sarah Twist, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Burkhart) Twist, became the wife of Calvin E. Reed December 30, 1837. ^Nlrs. Reed was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston county, Xew "^"ork, Jul}' 23, 1819. .She was a devoted wife and mother, and, like her hus- band, was a devout memlier of the Baptist church. Her death occurred in tlie \-illage of White Creek, January 28, 1899, and was deeply mourned l)y all who had known her. During the latter years of her life her liealtb failed and she was unable t;;) attend to her household duties. She devoted nnich time to reading, and was a close stu- dent of the Bible and of all good literature. She retained her faculties perfectly until lier last illness, which began in July, 1898. but from that time until her death she was a great sufferer, and reciuired the constant and closest care of her daughters, who attended her. ^Ir. and Mrs. Calvin E. Reed were the parents of the following children: A. Jo- sephine, now Mrs. William Fisher; Ennis T., for whom Ennis T. Reed Post, G. A. R., of White Creek, was named: Mary E., now Mrs. C. J. Austin; Sarah W., now }ilrs. Bergman ; and Kittie, who died December 25, 1864, aged si.x years. CHAUNCEY J. AUSTIN. Chauncey J. Austin, deceased, was one of tlie pione'ers of Wisconsin, and a \-eteran of the Civil war. He was born in Pennsyl- vania March 9, 1840. His parents, Alvah and Lucinda (Stowell) Austin, who moved from Pennsyl\-ania to Oconomowoc, Wis- consin, in 1844, devoted the best part of their lives Xo the uplnhlding of the unculti- vated and unci\ilized wilderness of Wiscon- sin, and the father died and now rests in the cemetery at Mapleton, near Oconomowoc. The mother died in La Crosse in the autumn of 1888, and is buried in that city. Her death occurred in her eighty-third year. Chauncey J. Austin, the subject of this article, came with his parents to Wisconsin when he was four years of age. He re- ceived the common school education afforded at that time in Wisconsin, remained at home until he reached his majority, and learned the trade of carpenter. In 1S61 he came to White Creek, .\dams county, where he pur- chased a tract of land near the village. Here 246 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. lie engaged in the hop industry, and was successful in the enterprise, demonstrating tliat hops can he successfully cultivated in Adams county. In August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for soldiers, and enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin \'(.)1- unteer Infantry. He remained with his regiment through all its many and weari- some marches and hattles, and did his dut}' as a brave and true soldier, until May, i8f)T,, when, near Snyders Bluft', Mississippi, he was seized by an attack of dysentery, and suffered severely from that time on until in May, 1864, he was sent to Decatur to the hospital, and later to the United States hos- pital at Nashville. Tennessee. In June, 1864, he received his discharge from the Twentv-fifth Regiment, and was commis- sioned first lieutenant in the Forty-second Wisconsin, by Go\-ernor Lewis. He came home to Madison, Wisconsin, on a furlough, and remained until September of that year. He was finally nuistered out June 20, 1865. after a long and arduous service, marked bv great o'allantry, and honored by his su- perior officers f(jr his courage. He did not reco\-er from his physical troulile contracted during the ser\-ice. and in August. 1879, he was attacked by what appeared to be paralysis of the lower limbs. A sudden relapse and a recurrence of his old trouble came on July 8, 1880, and for the six years following he suffered intense pain, and was never able to stand upon his feet, nor to so nuich as turn himself in bed with()ut assistance. Through all these years of sufi^ering he was always most patient and thoughtful, and ever considerate of the com- fort and well-being of those around him. Though not a memlier of anv church organi- 2ation, he was a true Christian man. and the consolations of Christianity cheered him in his last sufferings. He was a man of great public spirit and generosity, and he took a lively interest in all matters of a public na- ture. It was largely through his sugges- tions and influence that the town of White Creek was subdivided into the towns of Easton, Spring\'ille, and Ouincy. He was a Republican in political sentiment, and was always loyal to the principles of good gov^- ernment. He was married Februat)' 15, 1868, to Mary E., daughter of Calvin E. and Sarah (Twist) Reed, a sketch of whom will be found in connection with this article. ]\Irs. Austin still lives at the old homestead at W'hite Creek. To this union two children were born, namely: George Edward, born April 22, 1869, who is now at home, and Alvah, born September 28, 1874, and who was married to Alice L. Henry, daughter of John A. and Augusta ( Stowell) Henry, December i, 1898. DARIUS ADAMS GOODYEAR. Darius Adams Goodyear, one of the most prominent and highly respected citi- zens of Portage, is now living in an hon- orable retirement. He is a native of Sem- pronius, Cayuga county. New York, where he was born August 6, 1822, the tenth child in a family of eleven children. His par- ents were John and Julia (Bradley) Good- year. His father was a native of Fair- haven, Connecticut, but rem(.)ved to New York in early y(juth. He li\ed on a farm in Cayuga county until a short time after the birth of his son, Darius .\., when he re- moved to Genesee count}', in the same state, \\'here he died in 1826. His wife did not long survive him. passing away the same \'ear. ]Mr. Goodyear has a letter written li}' his mother to her mother, and an- other written by her brother, Henry Bradley. Both contain much valuable in- formation about the family. It appears DARIUS A. GOODYEAR. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 249 that Jolm Goodyear and Julia Brad- ley were married April 5, 1807, and their children were : Hannah, who was horn May 8, 1808, and died July 6, 1852. Lavinia became Mrs. C. C. ^^'aterhouse, and prac- ticed medicine in California after his death. She was born November 13, 1809, and died April I. 1890. Diana married Dr. Briggs, and took up. the study and jjractice of medi- cine with him. She was born July 29, 181 1, and died Xovem])er j8, 1897. Pomeroy was born April 15, 1813, and died Septem- ber 28, 1857. Addison was born January 8, 1815, and died April 10, 1849. Brad- ley, a physician, was born December 6, 1816, and died May 16, 1889. Julia was born Jmie 6, 1818, and died April 4. 1872. John, a physician, was born November 12, 1819, and died April 8, 1889. Franklin, a physi- cian, was born April 26, 1821, and died Sep- tember 30, 1883. Byron was born May 12, 1824, and died October 9, 1887. Dr. ]\Iiles Goodyear, a prominent physi- cian of Cortland, New York, displayed much interest in his brother's orphan chil- dren, and did much for them through all their youthful years. It was due to his in- fluence that so many of the family studied for the medical profession, and acquitted themselves so creditably in its practice. The family had a part in the old cnlnnial days 0/ New England, and came originally fr(jm the parish of Monken Haslley, cnuntv l\lid- dlesex, England. Stephen Goodyear, the founder of the family in the United States, was one of the original freemen of New Haven, a list of whom was prepared in 1638. He left England in the ship Hester in 1637. His wife, Mary, was a woman of large pos- sessions, including an estate in London, now known as Grosvenor Square. She died on a voyage to England in 1646, the ship never being heard of after it left the land. He afterward married Margaret, the widow of Captain (jeoree LambertDU. He was dep- uty governor of New Haven colony from 1643 to 1658, and was a man of mark. His posterity included many prominent business and professional men, none of whom were ever known to fail in business, but were all famous for commercial success and integrity of character. The Bradlev family came from Leeds, England, and settled at New Haven, where many of the name subsequently attained prominence. The father of Julia Bradley made a home at N(-)rthfield, Cayuga county, New York, wliere he was widely known as a successful farmer, and as the founder of the Bradley Meeting House, to which he ga\-e the ground for the church and cem- etery. His sons were Harry, Jabez, Daniel and Walter, and his daughters were Mrs. Darius Adams, Mrs. Andrews, and perhaps other children. Mr. Goodyear, the subject of this article, is now the only survivor of his parents' numerous family and was less than four years old when they died. He was adopted by his great-uncle, Heman Bradley, a resi- dent of Cayuga county. When he was about nine he was taken into the home of his sis- ter, Mrs. ^^'aterhouse, then living at Havana, New York, and went with her when her fr.mily found a home at Fort Defiance, Ohio. Schools were scarce on the frontier, and the young lad had little chance for learning. With open eyes and attentive ears, however, lie learned much. He helped about a hotel kept by Mr. Waterhouse, w'here state and county oificials were frequently entertained. He also carried mail on horseback from Fort Defiance to Adrian, Michigan, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and IMaumee, Ohio, Mr. Water- house having obtained contracts for all these routes. In 1836 he went to New York citv to attend a school taught by his sister, Diana. He was with her for a year, and then engaged as a collector for a lumber firm, of which Mr. \\'aterhouse was a mem- 250 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY ber, and spent a number of years in tbis way. ]\Ir. Goodyear returned to Cortland wbile still a 3-oung man, and applied himself to tbe trade of cabinetmaker. A\'ben be bad learned tbis trade be worked bis way t(j New York city on a canal boat and secured emi)loyment witb a large furniture bouse, wbere be remained for many years. He was especially good at repairing, and tbis line of work took b:m to many of tbe bomes of tbe leading" and wealtby citizens of New York and Brooklyn. He was called to do tbe finest work in repairing passenger cars, and bis unusual ability gave tbe house a wide reputation. He e\'entually engaged in the lumber business, and became a partner ii^ tbe firm of W'aterbouse, Linn & Com- pany, which sent se\-eral shiploads of lum- ber to California in the boom days of 1849. Tbe enterprise, however, did not prove profitable, though boldly planned and ex- ecuted. Mr. Goodyear bad by this time be- come familiar with every department of tbe Ijusiness and determined to strike out for himself. He came to Portage in 1858, and at once opened a lumber yard. His intimate knowledge of tbe business gave him a grasp of tbe situation that at once put him ahead of all C(jm]jetition, and won for him an ex- tensive retail trade. All lumber was at first brought Ijy water, l)ut as railroad transporta- tion was increase!.! he opened other yards, and at one time bad four in Columbia coun- ty alone. In tbe meantime be invested his profits in timber land in central Wisconsin and after about twenty years sold out bis re- tail business and gave his entire attention to manufacture and wholesale dealing in lum- ber. For a number of years be operated extensi\-e saw-mills in tbe \\'isconsin valley. Tbis l)usiness took on large proportions, and continues very important. Mr. Goodyear sold out some years ago to bis son, and a grandson is now a principal partner in tbe firm. The headquarters of tbe business is at Tomah, \\'isconsin. Mr. Goodyear was married April 16, 1 85 1, to Sarah, a daughter of Linus and Mary Holmes. Her father was a farmer, and spent his latter days at Portage. ^Ir. and Mrs. Goodyear have only one child, Charles Adams, who lives in Chicago, but has bis office at Tomah, ^\'isconsin. ]\Iuch of Mr. Goodyear's success be attributes to liis wife. They began housekeeping in Brooklyn, Xew Ynrk, on a salary of fifty dollars a nupntb. b\ed comfdrtaljly, rented a pew in tbe Strong Place Baptist church, but frequently attended Henry Ward Beecb- er's church, and saved money. In recent years they have spent much of their time in travel. Mr. Goodyear is a man of liberal and progressive ideas, and finds pleasure in freely using bis ample means to upbuild and adorn tbe city of Portage. He has erect- ed more substantial and elegant brick build- ings than any other man of that city, of recent times. Though not a member of any church, he encourages all Christian work and all other movements looking to tbe gen- eral good. He takes an active part in tem- perance work, is a trustee of tbe Presby- terian church, and \A'as for some years super- intendent of tbe Baptist Sunday school. From tbe organization of tbe party be has been a Republican, and, while never promi- nent as a politician, bis aih'ice has often been sought by friends and leading men in tbe political arena, and a respectful bearing given and his ideas often folIf his age. He was a promi- nent Mason, and his funeral services were conducted by that order. His wife died at Cookville, Wisconsin, about the year 1853- \\'illian: Fisher, the subject of this sketch, received a high education, and graduated from a medical college in Phila- delphia. He located at ^Vhite Creek, Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1861, and practiced his profession there for two years. He then removed to Catlin, Vermilion coun,ty, Illi- nois, where he practiced one year. He was then offered the position of general agent for the state of Kansas of the Northwestern Life Insurance Company. He held this position for five years and then became the representative of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company in the state of Texas and others of the southwestern states, and he continued in this capacity until his death. lie died August 5, 1874, at War- ren, Ohio, among strangers. His remains were conveyed to St. Charles, Illinois, where his family resided at that time. William Fisher was married September 14, 1861, to A. Josephine Reed, daughter of Calvin E. and Sarah (Twist) Reed, of Nunda, Livingston county, New York. Mention of Mrs. Fisher's parents will be found elsewhere in this volume. To this union four children were born, named in order of birth as follows: Ennis E., now living at \\'au\\atosa, Wisconsin; \\'illiam COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHY AV.. nrw in Ccv^radC': Eiigene B.. state in- specii:-- f;- Wisconsin Telephr-ne Company: and Joim J., graduate in Eeloit CoJlege. SALMON BROW X. Salmon Brown, one of tbe most ex- tcBsave pirodsce dealers o£ ihe Dorthwest. itadine in Kilbccini. Colmnbia coanJy. "\V:s: - - ' isi can be £cc; :: - - - •trsisreat ef- ic-iT. vfcij coTccie^j- iiic iikttSi C'l persever- ;.r.r; :s t"::; srrcessfal inan in whaiever tc- and 333 diis gead e^rc m are _.: 1 ,; caits of cJiaracier ^^ ":; ;!: are booad to psodnce the best and lesiiks. Mr. BrowTs isas bom in Hndsos, Snm- nsi cc'-nnfr. OIjjo, FdjiBaiy 13. 1&5S, aiid is the son of Fiedeikk Brown, a BaliTe of tbe sEiDc place, irbo was bom Fdimaiy 13, 1S07- ^?r. Brown is a Hr>pa3 desosadaTit r i P : : caaae to Anaenca in iht I - r^g ai PljHDomh Reck, Deoemiier 30, loja Tbe fadaer of osr subject iras a farnaer br ooagjatiim aad dealr escreBsrelT in siock. iiscindii^ bosses and caifl-e. He wem 10 Sank coeEirr. W 35- caaosan, in 1870, aiid icr a time liTed on a fim: near Ree.ds.'bnrg'. He was a Isroil^er of jrin BrC'im- d AboiiBon fanje. He nar- r^ei ' '-— iaizn. in Obio. wbo was a — -■!— ; -rrScirt. ^"d^ere she lired nnii! gT:-s— ;. -en she renaovef as the Wesrem iveserre. Sbe niS'ie : tine rrrp in tbe saddJe. and was ihe nrs: r lieacber in xhai secr^':xi. Sbe dkd in Hnd- s^::!n, OMg. in 2S63. Tbe txthe^ of oar scLject daed ia Reedsbairg. WlsooGisia. in 2S7- , " - jeais. Six djiJdien werr "Jo* conpiSe. our snbject being '"'^- j ^^' Two 01 bis In^sbeis, frederidc and Owen, enlisted at the Dreil-:- ing ont of the Gvil war. Tbe first nar::ed was bom in Ohio, in 1828. and was a grad- uate of tbe Western jReserre CoDege. He si'&di&d law and sensed in Pecaioojca, IBi- n:is. and was a^jiinted postmaster at the beginning of Lincoln's first admimstrariou, bni iip'3n ibe call for three mcaiihs' serricje be esilisied. and at the es^ratioa otJns time re-enlisted for three years, asm agairi for one year, tins serving for foor years and three months under three enHsHDems. He oya- sianily refused prccncdc^n, preferring to fight in tbe ranks, au-i dirrrng the peric^d in. which he "-z? ^ rbe aimy be was engaged innacr: ---battles. His -wife Jocfed ir'tr - ~- re during fn^ entsre ^ ''j*^ He is &yv liriag in Anrosa, ;. - is Qigaged in tbe pjaciioe of !aw, and is jnsiice of the peace. He -sras posHnasiEr at Pecaicsfica imtil ihe. beginning of Giant's first term as pressdeot, wben he fifsigned, naTing filled tis oSoe absul eight years. Tbe c»tber broihex, nanoed Owen Brown, was also a najxre of the Buckeye state, ha-fii^ bees hoai in 1830. He re- oareJ a good euncat33n and resn-jTed to sombem IIiii»is in 185S, ba-dng preriogisJy nsarried in C&io. In 1862 be eniiised in die Eighty-Hesghih ITI jtc jqs VolamBss- Infamrr, and died in tbe bogEtal at XashriHe, Ten- nessee, FcSjraaTy 2, 1863. Saincm Bro"sra lired in his nairre S32le mail 187^. where be was ^agaged in lartn- ii^ and fmir grcwing. Upcm Jearing Ohio be went direci t;' DeDcma township. Sank rr^TTT-. ""srC'Xisin. azid ssetJed on a farm r-d ic'- ihirDeea years. He ea- __^ -— ig - pTTTTig tTtp ■= .! , "'i: I tf~ -TTVtn .Ik; and ^jent tbe balance of his vn>t shiTfcng pffodooe. Here be laid -ays. fc^ndaiian iss his preseni inHnense produce bnsrsss, wijacb He m jved to ry, 2SS6, and now aiad sells in nacse SALHOH BROWH. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 259 than twenty-five. His trade extends from Boston on the east to the Missouri river on the west, and the vohime of his trade has been so extensive of late that it reached eighteen hundred car lots in the last fifteen months. He is considered one of the most extensive clover seed dealers in the state, and is, at this time, engaged exclusively in the wholesale business. Our subject was married at Put-in-Bay Island, Ohio, October 28, 1869, to Mrs. Belle M. Brown, a native of the Empire state, who was born in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of two children : Jen- nie B., born October 6, 1870, who married Dr. O. H. Browm, and is now a resident of Belvidere, Illinois; and Lydia H., born Sep- tember 12, 1873, who married C. H. Croth- ers, who is connected with Mr. Brown's office at Kilbourn. j\Ir. and ^Irs. Brown have four grandsons and three granddaughters. Our subject is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows^ and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has al- ways been a stanch Republican, and*is now a member of the county central committee. He has no\y served two terms as chairman of the Columbia county board of supervisors, and has been a member from Newport town- ship for six continuous terms. He was one of the leading spirits in the celebrated fight of Columbia county against the famous tramp nuisance case, in which the county was engaged a short time since. This case was the first to be tried in the state, and the county was victorious, mainly throug'h the great efforts which Mr. Brown with others put forth with that end in view, thereby sav- ing to the county many thousands of dollars. He is ever ready to defend the people against the encroachment of evil doers, and the community in \\hich he resides may well be proud to number him among the influential and public-spirited citizens. So well known and active a character necessarily has many friends throughout the land, and all will fully appreciate the portrait of him shown elsewhere in this volume. REVEREND JAMES H. McCHESNEY. Reverend James H. McChesney, an aged resident of the township of New Chester, has a very comfortable home on section 4, near the postoffice of Grand Marsh, and commands the respect and veneration of a wide circle of friends and neighbors. He was born at Newark, New Jersey, February 12, 1825, and has lived a long and active life. James McChesney, the father of the sub- ject of this writing, was born in county Monaghan, Ireland, June 4, 1798, and came to the United States when about seventeen years old. When he was three years older he traveled through the country with Lor- enzo Dow and Francis Williams, preaching the gospel at country school houses, and any place where a congregation could be gath- ered. A little later he became associated with D. D. Beach in the publication of a religious paper with an office in New York City. He was engaged in this work for many years, and when he reached the ma- ture age of forty-two was ordained a min- ister in Dr. Wallace's church in New York. He had various settlements and after several years brought up in Glenn Ellyn, Illinois, where he was one of thirteen to organize the Chicago Congregational Association. His pure character, lofty soul and loving spirit commanded reverence and esteem, and in whatever work he was engaged his sterling worth was at once recognized. He died at Glenn Ellyn when over ninety-six. He was married to Matilda Davis, April 4, 1824. She was born at Flempstead Harbor, Long- Island, New York, April 4, 1806, and proved herself in every way a worthy associate of her husband. 2G0 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. The Reverend James H. McChesiiey, the subject of this writing, lived with his parents until he was twenty-five years old. He studied much and read deeply and wisely under his father's direction. In 1850 he left home and went to Sparta, Wisconsin, where he remained for some four years. At that time he moved to Adams county, and secured a home in New Chester, where he has continued to reside to the present time. He was ordained a minister of the gospel in 1869 at Westfield, Marquette county, in the Congregational church. He preached for over thirty years and owned a farm in the meantime. He is still called upon to offici- ate at the funeral services of the old resi- dents, and has tender and touching words for those with whom he has been so closely associated for so many years. He was mar- ried to Mary B. Hull, April 3, 1845, '" the city of Brooklyn. She is a native of the city of New York, where she was born November 8, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. McChesney are the parents of eleven children. Three of these died in infancy. Those now living are : Josephine May, Margaret M., Jane E., Samuel, Joseph, James J., Mark H., and Myrtle A. It is a goodly family, and all its members have won a good standing in the great world. Their venerable father is much revered and loved, and he is still the center of their thoughts and ambitions. CLARENCE CLAYTON EATON. Clarence Clayton Eaton, editor and pro- prietor of the "Columbus Democrat," at Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, is a gentleman of the highest character, and popular throughout that section of the coun- try. He is a native of Whitewater, Wis- consin, and was born August 7, 1861, and was the son of Sephrenas and Eleanor (Green) Eaton. His father was a native of Leeds, Ontario, and is a lineal descendant of P'rancis Eaton, who came to America on the Mayflower. His descendants in direct line follow: Francis, Benjamin, Benjamin, Jr., Francis H., Jabez, Jabez, Jr., Al- mon Ranson, Sephrenas. Francis Ea- ton II wedded Thankful Alden, grand- daughter of John and I'riscilla Alden, and James Edison Eaton, brother of Almon R. Eaton, was one of the pioneers of Columbus, and served as the first postmasier and justice of the peace and was later county clerk. Almon R. Eaton came to Wisconsin and settled at Hebron, Jefferson county, where he died aged over seventy years. He was a farmer by occupation, and served as one of the first justices at Hebron and was a man of good judgment and business ability. The father of our subject was by trade a mechanic, and worked in the Esterly Reaper Factory at Whitewater as a wood worker. In his early life he was a sailor on the great lakes, and he is now a manufacturer at Watertown, in which city he has served sev- eral years in succession as alderman. The mother of our subject came to Wisconsin with her parents at an early day, and the family settled on a farm at Hebron. Clarence C. Eaton attended public school at Fond du Lac and Watertown, and later La Borveau Academy at Watertown, and after completing a course there entered the office of the "Watertown Democrat." L^pon the death of its editor, Thomas Jones, in 187^, he took charge of the paper for a few months, after which he became foreman of the news and job department of the "Eau Claire Free Press," and also acted as correspondent to Chicago papers. He went to Madison in 1884 to accept a jxisition on the "Democrat," and in 1887 purchased the "Columbus Democrat," which he has since published, with much success. It has been the policy of the paper to agitate the subject of public COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 261 improvements, and it is largely due to its influence that the town has an excellent sys- tem of street lighting and water works, and a city hall which would do credit to a much larger town. Mr. Eaton has been active in many public improvements, and helped to organize a Fourth of July American Asso- ciation, which raised two hundred dollars for public improvements. Our subject was married in January, 1884, to Julia J. Ford, daughter of John and Martha ( Maciritchie) Ford, of Watertown, Wisconsin. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, bearing the names : Sumner Ford and Roswell Carlisle. Mr. Eaton has served as justice of the peace two years, and one year as superintendent of city schools, and in 1897 was elected alder- man in the first ward, the first Democratic candidate elected in that ward. He is a member of the Gold Democratic state central committee. He is a gentleman whose work is extended for the benefit of his fellow men, and he is held in the highest esteem. He is a gentleman of culture and possesses a naturally fine baritone voice, which he has greatly improved under excellent instruction, and aside from taking a leading part in the choirs of the local churches is solicited to sing in other towns on public occasions. ARTHUR MARSDEN, M. D. Arthur Marsden, M. D., and who has also won the degree of Ph. D., is located at Rio, Columbia county, and is engaged in the practice of his profession. He has rapidly won the favor of the public both by his pro- fessional skill and stability of character, and his friends expect for him a long and use- ful career in the great work to which he has devoted himself. He was born at Albion Prairie, Dane county, Wisconsin, May 15, 1869, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Marsden. The Marsden family traces its lineage back to Normandy, and to adven- turous spirits who crossed the Channel with William the Conqueror. Henry Marsden was a native of Derbyshire, England, and in 1844 he was brought by his parents into Wis- consin when only thirteen years old. He lived on the farm with them until 1880 when he located in Edgerton, and dealt in lumber and building material in that city. Mrs. Marsden comes of an illustrious line. She was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and her grandmother was a sister of the Earl of Dumbarton. Dr. Marsden attended the public school at Edgerton, and was graduated from the local high school at the age of eighteen. He spent three years at Albion Academy, devot- ing himself to general and philosophical studies, and entered Rush Medical College at Chicago in 1891, and received his di- ploma in 1894. He also spent a year at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, and received a diploma from that in- stitution in 1895. In June of that year he opened an office in Rio, and soon command- ed an extensive practice in Rio and the sur- rounding country. He is now the only physician in the village. He is an atten- dant upon the services of the Congregational church, belongs to the Masons, is the camp physician of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican, but not a politician. He reads much, and has an office fitted out with a valuable library. CHEBAR FORBUSH. The history of a community or a nation is made up of the experiences and deeds of individuals, and for this reason it would 2G-2 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. be difficult to write a readable narrative of the development of Adams county, Wiscon- sin, without frequent mention of the name of Chebar Forbush. He is one of the pio- neers who did so much in those early days to shape the destinies of the great state of Wisconsin, and to make for her a career of prosperity and greatness rarely paralleled in the world's history. The subject of this review has been a resident of Adams county practically half a century and with the ex- ception of a few years has occupied his pres- ent home in New Chester township. Chebar Forbush was born in the town of Starke, Coos county, Xew Hampshire, November 24, 1834. His parents were Chebar and Elizabeth (Graper) Forbush. The father was born in Massachusetts, near Bloody Brook, and the grandfather of our subject ser\-ed through the Revolutionary war, seven years in all. It is said two For- bush brothers were taken prisoners by the great Cromwell in Scotland, and were ban- ished from the country in 1655. They set- tled in Massachusetts, near Springfield, and their descendants have scattered throughout the United States, many of them still living in Massachusetts. Chebar Forbush, Sr., re- moved to North Adams, Massachusetts, where he was employed as watchman in the factories in that place for a niunber of years. In 1848 he went to Cook county, Illinois, V. here he lived three 3-ears. He then moved to Adams county, Wisconsin, locating in Pleasant Prairie, and thence to Sharon, Wis- consin. His death occurred in ]\Iinneapolis, jSIinnesota; in 1872, at the age of seventy- two years. He was a stanch Whig in his earlier days, and later voted with the Re- publicans. Our subject's mother was born in 1804 in New Hampshire, and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of eighty-five years. Her father was a farmer, and lived and died in New Hampshire. Her mother was a descendant of the Hollanders. Giebar Forbush, our present subject, was a small lad when his family took him to North Adams, IMassachusetts, where he worked five years in a cotton factory. He ac- companied the family to Illinois, and thence to Wisconsin. He took up his residence in Adams county in 1851, and a few years later purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He has placed many valuable and convenient improvements upon it, and has made it in every sense a home, where genuine hospitality and good cheer are extended to all who cross itS: threshold. Mr. Forbush enlisted February 11, 1862, in Company G, Nineteenth Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry. His first two years of ser- vice were in eastern Virginia and North Carolina. He was later transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the siege of Norfolk, the battles of Drury's Blutf, Fair Oaks, and the sieges of Peters- burg and Richmond. He was mustered out and discharged May 4, 1865, having been in the ranks almost continuously during his en- tire sers'ice. Chebar Forbush was married November 5, 1856, to Sarah Foster, of New Chester township, Adams cotmty, Wisconsin. She died January 8, 1859, aged twenty years. Sophia C. Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, became the wife of our subject, IMarch 19, i860. Mrs. Forbush was born in Martha's \'ine- yard, Massachusetts. To this union three children w^ere born, namely: Clara Sophia, now Mrs. Peter Johnson, of Hancock, Wisconsin ; Sarah Agnes, now Mrs. William DeMott, of Westfield, Wisconsin, and Wal- ter U., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Forbush are members of the Congregational church of New Chester, of which INIr. Forbush is a deacon and trustee. He is also a member of Badger Post, G. A. R., at Friendship. He is a Republican in political views, having COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 263 voted for Fremont in 1856, and has con- tinued to support the men and measures of the "grand old party" ever since. He has been chosen supervisor of Xew Chester township several times, always serving his community with fidelit}- and to the satis- faction of all men of all shades of political faith. GOTTLIEB LOHR. A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplifica- tion of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of un- bounded opportunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Lohr, one of the leading German- American residents of Sauk City, Wisconsin. For many years he was actively identified with the agricultural interests of Sauk county, but two years ago he gave up busi- ness life and removed to the village, where ho is now living retired. Mr. Lohr was born in Prussia, Germany, June 7, 1835, and acquired a limited educa- tion in his native land. In 1854, in company with his parents and seven other children, he emigrated to America, where they hoped to improve their financial condition. By close economy and careful management they saved enough to pay their passage, and bid- ding good bye to friends and native land, embarked at Bremen on a sailing vessel, which was sixty days in crossing the Atlan- tic. They landed at New York, August 30, 1854, and proceeded at once to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where they secured work at whatever they could find to do. Our subject found employment working with a threshing machine, and receive.l fifty cents per day and his board, which seemed to him at that time very good wages, as it was much more than he had ever earned be- fore. This brought before him visions of wealth and fortune quickly secured. He next worked for a farmer at $5 per month, and the following winter made for him oak shingles which were used in covering a new granary which the farmer built and which was soon afterward destroyed by fire. Later he was employed by another farmer at $144 per year and remained with him three years and a half, during which time he saved all liis money, being steady, industrious and economical, and spending nothing for beer and luxuries. At the end of twelve years spent in the employ of others, he managed to save considerable money, and in the mean- time purchased eighty acres of raw land in Hone}^ Creek township, on time, and his wages went to pay the interest and complete the purchase. He then located upon his land and turned his attention to its cultiva- tion and improvement. About this time Mr. Lohr married Aliss Helena Hartmann, and together they worked night and day until they had one of the best improved farms of the locality. x\t times Mr. Lohr also worked for others and as his financial resources increased he added to his land until he now has a fine farm of 192 acres, which is operated by his son. Our subject erected thereon a nice stone house 20x30, with a kitchen 18x24, all two stories high; a barn, 40x70 feet, and good outbuild- ings, all of which he keeps in excellent re- pair. His place is supplied with all kinds of farm machinery, and he also has a fine threshing machine outfit, purchased at a cost of $2,400; a sorghum mill, which cost $350; and a saw mill, where, during the winter season, from 75,000 to 125,000 feet of lum- ber are manufactured. Mr. and Mrs. Lohr have five children: John, a farmer of Troy township, Sauk county, whose place cost $8,000; Chris, who lives on the home farm; Amelia, wife of William Wenzel, b\' whom she has three children; Herman, a school teacher; and Emma, at home. All of the children have 264 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. been given good educational advantages, and the family are meml>ers of the Lutheran church. In his political views j\lr. Lohr is a Republican. His word in business transactions is considered as good as his bond, and when purchasing his threshing machine he would not sign a contract but said he would pay the amount in so many days, and he did pay it before that time. He is a man of excellent judgment and good business ability, is upright and reliable in all things, and is justly recognized as one of the most energetic and representative citi- zens of Sauk Citv. JOHN RICHMOND DECKER. John Richmond Decker, publisher of the "Columbus Republican," enjoys the distinc- tion of being the oldest editor in Columbia county. He is also connected with other business interests, including a prosperous furniture business at Pittsville, Wood coun- ty, and since 1886 had been local mana- ger of the Wisconsin Telephone Company until about one year ago. Mr. Decker was born in Sinclairville, Chautauqua county. New York, February 28, 1842, and was the son of Stephen and Sylvania (Richmond) Decker. His father was a native of Troy, New York, and was of Holland descent, his ancestors having located on the Hudson river, and were neigh- bors of the Van Rensselaers, and other prom- inent Knickerbocker families. The grand- father of our subject, Christopher Decker, was a farmer by occupation, and his mother, Phoebe Cushman, was a relative of the famous actress, Charlotte Cushman. Our subject's father learned the trade of wagon- maker in Bennington, Vermont, and later conducted a large factory at Sinclairville, New York, and about 1845 "loved to Erie county. New York, and in 1855 to Waupun, Wisconsin, where he carried on a wagon factory, and his death occurred there in 1886, aged seventy-eigiit years. The mother of our subject was born in Bennington, Vermont, and was the daughter of John and Sarah (Truman) Richmond. Her fa- ther represented the sixth generation of that family in America. The first was John Richmond, who settled at Taunton, Massa- chusetts, in 1635. His grandson, Sylvanus Richmond, married a descendant of John Alden. John Richmond, the fifth in line of descent, served under General Wolfe at the battle of Quebec. He was seventy- three years of age when the Revolutionary war began, and although too old to take active part espoused the patriot cause. The mother of our subject died at Columbus, Wisconsin, in 1888, aged eighty-five years. John R. Decker attended Waupun high school, and in 1859 spent one year in the office of the "Waupun Times," and finished his trade in the job office of Edward Beeson, one of the veteran printers and editors of the state, now deceased. Mr. Decker returned to Waupun in 1867 and purchased the "Times," wdiich he published one year, and in 1868 established the "Columbus Republi- can," which he has since published. He is the oldest editor in the county and one of the oldest in Wisconsin. Our subject was married, in 1866, to Miss Harriet E. Shelmadine, daughter of Abram and Lucy Shelmadine, of Waupun, Wisconsin. Mrs. Decker was born in Elmira, New York, and died in 1869, at the age of twenty-nine years, leav- ing two children, Minnie J. and Ray, who died at the age of four and one-half years. Mr. Decker married Miss Susan Hawx- hurst, of Columbus, daughter of Mrs. Penelope Hawxhurst, in. 1870. Mrs. Decker died three years later, aged thirty-two years. Her only child, Myrta, died the day follow- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 265 ing her mother's death, aged two and a half years. Mr. Decker married Emma L. Kolmes, of Portage City, Wisconsin, in 1875. Mrs. Decker was born in West Point, New York, and was tlie daugliter of Joshua Holmes, who died at Columbus, aged ninety-three years. Both our subject and wife are members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Decker is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the blue lodge, chapter and Eastern Star, of the Masonic fraternity. He was appointed postmaster of Columbus by President Har- rison and served from 1890-94. He was justice of the peace eight years at Columbus, and chairman of the county board of super- visors in 1877, '78 and '79. He is well and favorably known and well merits his success and prominent position. ANDREW OLESON HOLM, Deceased. For more than a score of years Adams county, Wisconsin, was the home of the gentleman above nametl and his public career was one of which his community could always boast. He was an ex-soldier and a liberty loving citizen and enjoyed the esteem of his fellow men. He was an active business man and displayed ability and enterprise. Mr. Holm was born in Skeen, Norway, March 5, 1831, the son of Ole and Anna Holm. His mother died in Norway, and he and his father came to America in 1849, and his father died the day following their arrival. Our subject attended school in this country but little, but was well read in his native language. He resided at Palmyra until 1859, when he went to Adams county, Wisconsin, and settled in Strong's Prairie township, where he lived for a number of years. He entered the United States army September 26, 1864, and became a member of Company F, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was stationed at Nashville for some time and took part in General Thomas' battle with Hood and subsequent march through Alabama. He received no wounds, but his health was much impaired by the service. He was discharged June 9, 1865, and about two years after his re- turn to Wisconsin he was elected county clerk and removed to Friendship, where he resided until his death. He did consider- able insurance business, and also filled the office of county clerk continuously until his death. Mr. Holm was married, Alarch 24, 1857, to Rebecca, daughter of Peter U. and Louise Barnson. Mrs. Holm was born near Farsund, Norway, and came to America with her parents in 1849. The family re- sided four years in Dane county, Wiscg^ «aii liilv ' ', iS(i|. Ill' snlU'ii'il Minsiinkc wliiK' .il ilir li.iliU' .i| \lknil.i, ,iiul W.IS C.ilirilU'il 111 llu' 111 i'.|ill.ll. Ml, W.ilu'ili \\,i'. m.niu'il \i i\ I'liilu'i .'u. iSdS, 111 iK'lii'.lii \, ,';, Ilowaiil, ol' W liito (,'ri'ck; \ ornio A,, liom Juno 17, iS~o, 10 siiK's at lioino; ,\,i^iu's H., hmii ,\l.irch is, iSS^, also ii'siili's al homo; ami i.',il\in J., horn Oi'iolnT o, iSS,-, li\os al homo. .M r aiiil Mrs, W.iholh ailoiuoil oiio i^iil, M.nv K.nki I illov, iho vl.m-htor ol ,\lis, W ,il lolh's sish'i, aiul sho li.is m,iilo hov homo with ihoiii siiu'o iSS|. ,\li, \\ .ilioth is luuoli iutovoslotl in oduoalional manors, and lias j^ivon hi.s ohilihou o\ory oduoational ad vaiita.ij'o. and ilio\ h,i\o hooomo inlolli,ij'cut mciuhoi's ol ihoii oouummiiv. llis daiiijli- lors ha\o all hoon toaoho\s, and l\a\o al taiuod a hij;h dotjroo ol' soliolarshiii. ,Mr, \\ alroth is a inoiiil>or of l'"uuis Koovl I'osi. No. .-00. c;, .\. K,, of Whito (.rook, and is iho prosoni ooinmaiuloi of iho posl. llo is also a monihor of the Masonic frater- nity and tlio (."onijrofiatiinial ohnroh at Whito (."rook. In politio.d faith ho is a Ko IMihlio.ni. llo li.is lillod \,iriiins loojil olTioos 111' Iriisl failhlnlU and woll, htil duos not •,00k pnlilio pioloi iiioiil. w ishiiiL; r.ilhor |o sri \ o his I'l immninlx in ullior w,i\s, li is ;i lilo,isnro 111 moot a man of his oharaoloris- lirs .md ,iliilil\ , I > Will I'd' I in I'OI I'M \\. M,miol I'liiild ( nloiiKin. iiiosi l'.i\ : ii'.ihK' known ,is .1 iilloi 111 iho soil, .iiid .is ,in hmi osi and 111001111^1 ihlo man. is a rosidoiil '>\ h'.ill Ki\oi. I'olnmhi.i ooimh. and llio ow nor ol a f.nni jiisi noiih of ilio \iI1.il;o limits. I lo is a son oi liislin.i .md Mi .ihoili ( Ihidd") I'olom.m, .ind w.is lioni al llooloi. \'ow ^olk. .\jiiil 1 J, iS_'3. llis |i,ironis woio nalixos oi .\ow Joisoy, and his L;i.md mullior was a dan.i^hlor i^\ I'lilonol Ihidd i'\ l\o\ olnl ionar\ f, 11110. llio I'lulds wi-io of l''ioiioli dosoonl. wliilo llio (.'oloni.ins oanio from h'ns^land, I'lioio is in llio famil\ a j;'onoalo!L;y wliioli .i^oos hark to iimo. and shows a woll ostahlisliod olaim to royal hlnod in iho f.iniiK. Josluri (. 'olom.m diod Jimo 5 iS|.'. lull his wifo sur\i\od uulil 1 SSo ihoN woro iho paronts of nino ohildron. ol whom oiiK two aro now lixin^;. mir suhjool, and (.'haiios (,'olomaii. a losidoni oi (.'a\- wood. Now Nork. Maniol (."olomaii oamo wosi in iS|_^. and spoilt iho summoi- in K.ioino, W isooiisin. Iho iio\i \oai ho mo\ od lo hodi^o ooniity, and rom.iiiiod ihoro until iSSS. w hou ho oamo to hall Ki\or. takiui; up his homo in tlio \ ilkii^o. 1 lo still luaiutains his residence here, and as he is \ery ooml\M-tal>ly tixed expeots no farther elianj^e during; the re- mainder oi his life. Mr, C'oloman and Miss h'li.-a W , r>ond were united iu marriage \o- \emher _;. iS|,~. She was a dans;liler of Poaoon Hoiul. and died l'"ehruary _'S, 181)5. She was tlie niotlior oi iwo ohildron : John, who was horn January j~. 1840. ai\d died laiui.ir\ I.'. 1S80; ,iud Sarah In-okv. who (OMI'h.NlilllM <)/■ I'.Kii.l'.'.ll'IIV. V,\ I vv.'is liorii .Vl;iiili I.',, \''''-\i. Mr. ( 'i'|r-iii;iii was married a m-imijiI iimi' \'> Mi'.'i Sarali l'„ Rcyii'ildH, a daiii^lilcr of Ahraiii and Alhiiia ('Siiiillij Reynolds. MrH. Coleinaii vva'i Iiorn in IvHscx, New York, July 2'), iK.|/(, Her inollier died Mareli ii, 1S54, and lier fa- lliir married a^ain and lived nnlil Seplem- licr I'l, iKK,;. jiy jiin (irHl marria^' was for many years one of the most successful and i'rfinential farmers of Sauk county, was hf>rn \u Schoharie contilv. New York, N'ovetti- licr I), I'^l'), ;iiid dii'l ii|ii.ij \w. I;iiiii iie;ir l>Iced'.l)m|',, l'<-l>iii;iiy 1 |, i^''>.', Iioiioied and rcsp(rcled hy all who knew liiiii, His par- ents, f^orneliiis W. and Mary CJire; Win- nie, were alv* natives of lin- Imii|iiii- l.ile, and the former spraii),; from an old Hol- land family. At an early day lliey came to Wisconsin, and after a few years spent in Walworth cotinly, look ii|) their residence ne.'ir Keedshiir^f, in Sank comity. The fa- ther 'iclecied ;i ( laim on ihe pre'ieiil site of Keed-.l)iii')< and walked lo llie land ollice at Miiiend Toiiil lo eiilei il, only lo liiid that it had heeii l;d<( to Josephine Edwards, daughter of Abiatha and Lucy (McKnight) Edwards. Mrs. Robbins was born in Chautauqua coun- ty, New York, and her father was a dealer in live stock, and also conducted a tin shop and meat market at Ripley, New York. He died at the latter place, aged eighty-three years. His mother reached the age of ninety years. Mrs. Robbins' mother was born in Ripley, and her parents lived there for many years. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robbins : Viola, born in 1859, died at the age of four months; Eva, born in i860, now the widow of John Leatherman, of Pardeeville; Truman, born in 1866, residing in Pardeeville; and Burr, born in 1872, now residing in Woodstock, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have three grandchildren. Mrs. Robbins and daugh- ter are members of the Christian church at Pardeeville. Mr. Rolibins is prominent in liis community, and has been called upon to serve in various local othces of trust in Ot- sego township. He is a stanch Republican, but voted for Taylor in 1848. SAVILIAN FULLER SMITH. For over thirty-five years the name of this gentleman has been familiar to the citi- zens of Reedsburg, where he formerly was engaged in the hardware business. Since 1872 he has lived in retirement in his com- fortable home in that city, but his career as a prominent worker for the advancement of his community did not cease with his abandoning active business life. He is a man of broad mind and true worth, and is held in the highest esteem throughout the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Smith was born in Knuxville, Onei- da county, New York, May 31, 1831. His father, Timothv Smith, was a native of Plartford, Connecticut, and ^vas descended from an old New England family. He was a shoemaker and currier by trade, and con- ducted a tannery at Knoxville, and later built a hotel there and was engaged in hotel keep- ing until his death. The building still stands, and is a familiar landmark. He was an industrious man, and successful in busi- ness, accumulating a fortune from a limited start in his business career. His death oc- curred in Watertown, New York, August 20, 1873, aged eighty-one years, nine months and three days. The mother of our sub- ject, Lucy (Avery) Smith, was descended from the Avery family, of Groton, Connect- icut, one of the oldest colonial families. Her father, David Avery, removed to New York, and located near Hamilton. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 815 Our subject removed with his parents to Munnsville, New ^'ork, when he was six years of age, and there he gained liis edu- cation, attending the academy. At the age of fifteen years he Ijegan to learn the tin- ner's trade, and in 1851 went to Muscatine. Iowa. He located at Newport, on the Wis- consin river, two years later, where he en- gaged in the hardware business, being a member of the firm of Star, Smith & Lewis. The firm dissolved partnership when the tuwn was abandoned, and our subject went to Delton about i860, where he continued in business two years. He m(j\ed from thence to Reedsbure", where he established in the hardware business, which he con- ducted until 1872. He then disposed of his business to Hagenaugh & Gifford, since which time he has lived in retirement. The store building which he occupied was erected by him in 1868, and in 1870 his present residence was constructed. It is a fine piece of property, and his home is one of the pleasant homes of that city. j\Ir. Smith is a brother of Perry H. Smith, who was a prominent man in railroad circles, and for a number of vears was vice-president of the Northwestern Railroad. He died in 1886. Our subject was married in 1856 to Dor- othy Smith, daughter of Milo Smith, of Reedsburg. The union proved an unhappy one, and a separation was granted in 1865. Two children were born of this union, Perry A. and Charles S., lioth of whom are promi- nent business men of Reedsburg. Mr. Smith married Nellie E. Eggleston, May 4, 1869. Mrs. Smith was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, December 27, 1844, and was a daughter of Thomas and Deborah Eggles- ton, of Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Her parents came from Chipnerwolton, England, and Mr. Eggleston was a baker by trade, and af- terward followed the business of architect. He designed and erected the state capitol at Madison, Wisconsin, and many of the pub- lic buildings of other places, including Fox Lake and Beaver Dam. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Bird Lucy. The family attend the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Smith is a Lhiiversalist in belief, but not connected with any si^ciety. He is prominent in secret society circles, and is one of the oldest members of the Ma- sonic fraternity, being initiated into that or- der October 21, i8i;6. He was exalted to the Royal Arch June 10, 1876, and created a Knight Templar October 9, 1878, and took the Wisconsin Consistory Scottish Rite de- gree February 9. 1881. His wife, daugh- ter and he are members of the Queen of Sheba Chapter, Order Eastern Star, at Reedsburg. Air. Smith joined the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows in 1866, and is a member of Baraboo Lodge, and Germania Encampment. He first joined the North- western Encampment, No. 20, at Reedsburg, and has filled all the chairs in both organi- zations. He is a member of Alliance Can- ton, Patriarchs Militant, at Baraboo, and Birch Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah. He has held inunerous offices in all of the above orders, and is also connected with the An- cient Order of United Workmen. His li- brary includes many volumes pertaining to fraternal societies, with which he is identi- fied, and is one of the most complete Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows' libraries in the state of Wisconsin. It includes proceedings of ' the Masonic Grand Lodge, from its organi- zation in 1843 to the present date, the pro- ceedings of the Grand Chapter organized in 1S50, the First Grand Council in 1857. First Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1859, First Supreme Council in i860. First Supreme Council, A. A. S. R., for the Ju- risdiction of the United States in 1859; also proceedings of First Sovereign Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, Independent Order of Odd 816 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Fellows, in 1821, and all subsequent pro- ceedings to date; First Grand Encampment in 1852. Mr. Smith is a man of exemplary character, and does not seek public fa\'or, preferring- the quiet of private life. lie has been a lifelong Democrat in political sentiment, and cast his first vote for Frank- lin F'ierce frir president. CHAUXCEY FEN ROBERTS. Chauncey Fen Rolierts, after a long' and useful life, mostly devoted to agricultural pursuits, is now li\ing retired at his pleas- ant home in Portage, Wisconsin, surrounded l)y the comforts gained by former toil. He was Ijorn in the town of Springwater, Liv- ingston county. New York, March 21, 1831, a son of William and Phylecta (Dow'd) Roberts, also natives of that county. There the paternal grandfather, John Roberts, followed farming for some }-ears, but finally removed to Indiana, and later to Three Rivers, ^Michigan, where he died at an advanced age. In 1840 \Villiam Rob- erts, our subject's father, went to Indiana and settled on a farm near South Bend, but returned to New York two or three years later. In 1845 ^^^ came to Wisconsin, locat- ing first in Walworth county. He brought his family and household goods by water from Buffalo, New York, to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and on his arri\al in Walworth ciiunty had Init .$11.50 Avith which to begin life in the west. After tA\o years spent in that county, he came to Columbia county, and settled in Scott township, where he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land at one dollar and a quarter per acre, and on the borrowed money with which he paid for it he had to give fifty ]jer cent, interest. He continued to make his Ikmiic upon that place until called from this life in 1866, at the age of seventy- four years. He was a devout member of the Free Will Baptist church, and a deacon in the Scott church, which he assisted in organ- izing. His w'ife also took an active part in church work and both were highly esteemed by all who knew them. She survi^■ed her husband only a }-ear or two, dying at the age of se\'enty-three years. The boyhood and youth of Chauncey F. Roberts were mainly passed upon the home farm in Columbia county, and though his literary education was limited, his training at farm work was not meager and he early became a thorough and skillful agriculturist. Fie assisted his father in the improvement and culti\ation of the farm until the latter's death, antl continued to carr_\- it on until 188], since which time his son has had charge of it. In that year he purchased a tract of 180 acres of land in the old Fort Winnebago reservation and improved and operated that farm for several years. He has always been industrious, enterprising and energetic, and for a number of years, in ad- dition to cultivating his land during the sum- mer, he operated a threshing machine m the fall and worked in the pineries with his team through the winter. He is a good horseman and has bred some very fine animals. Since 1895 he has been living retired in Portage, where he owns several lots and buildings,, from which he derives a good income. On the 30th of April, 1853, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Roberts and Miss Alma S. Barker, a native of Byron, Genesee county. New Yoik, and a daughter of Hugh and Mary ( Guthrie j Barker, also natives of the Empire state, who in 1884 came to \Vis- consin, and after li\'ing in Sugar Creek town- ship, Walworth county, for about five years came to Columbia county, settling in the town of Marcellon. The father, who was born in Cayuga county. New York, died in Packwaukee, Wisconsin, in i860, at the age sixty-six years. His wife had previously COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 819 passed away October i8, 1854, at the age of sixty-two. Mrs. Roberts' paternal grand- father, Joseph Barker, with a nnnil)er of his neighbors, was captured liy the Indians (hn-- ing the Revolutionary war, and at the same time his house was burned and all of his property destroyed. Fortunately he made his escape from the red men the second night after his capture. His wife was not taken. Prior to her marriage JMrs. Rolicrts success- fully engaged in teaching se\-eral terms of school in Columbia county. She is the mother of two children : Alary, now Mrs. John Jar\-is, of Pacific, Columbia county; and Mark W'., a [jroniinent farmer of Scott township. Air. and Mrs. Roberts also have eight grandchildren and one g'reat- grandchild, and all constitute an intelligent and cultured family, wdiich is cjuite prom- inent socially. Our subject and his wife have always attended the Baptist church, and he belongs to the American Protective Asso- ciation. Politically he has been a life long Republican, for two years served as asses- sor of Scott townshij), and has always taken considerable interest in public afifairs. He has also taken an active interest in the Columbia County Fair; has attended its ex- hibitions every year but one since the society was organized in 185 1; has generally been a contributor to the same; and has frecpiently held office in the society. Pie is well known throughout the county for his sterling char- acter and worth and has a host of warm friends, all of whom will be pleased to find portraits of Mr. Roberts and his estimable wife on another page of this work. ADOXIRAM JUDSOX HODGES. Adoniram Judson Hodges, a veteran of the Civil war, now residing in \\'voccna, is nnc nf a family which has distinguished it- self for patriotism on manv occasions. He was born in Camliridgc. Washington county, X'ew York, October 11, 1835, and was a sen of Aliel and Hannah (Sliter) Hodges, \\lio were nati\es of Rensselaer county, Xew Vurk. The name is also written "Hodge." Abel Hodges, the first of his name in America, came from Ireland and settled in Connecticut. His sun, Abel, the grand- father of our subject, enlisted in the Conti- nental army from Hartford, and assisted in the defense of Xorwich, when that place was attacked 1>\' the British. The father of our suljject, Abel HI., ser\-ed in the war of 181 J at the battle of Plattslnu-g. He was born in Rensselaer count}', but lived and died on a farm in Washington county. New ^'ork, antl reached the age of sixty-nine }-ears. The grandfather of our subject lived t>j the advanced age of nearly ninety-three }'ears. Our subject's mother died at Cam- bridge when he was but two years of age. His maternal grandfather, John Sliter, came from the M(jhawk \alley, and was over six years in the Revolutionary army, and died in Lewis county. New York. A. J. Hodges spent his boyhood in X"ew York, and September 22, 1857, came to \\"isconsin and settled in the town of Wyo- cena. He later spent some years at carpen- ter work, Ijut since 1885 has resided on his present farm. This consists of forty acres and is a pleasant and well cultivated estate. ITe enlisted February 10, 1864, in the United States army at Madison, Wisconsin, and was assigned to Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery. He was discharged Au- gust 9, 1865. He spent nine months at Car- lisle, Pennsylvania, being detailed as musi- cian in the Third Division Band under Ma- jor Sawyer, Camp Stoneman. Previous to entering the service, he was a member of a band at Wyocena, which went with the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry — the "Eagle Regiment." After leaving Carlisle he was 320 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. stationed at Camp Barry, and organized a post band of sixteen members, and led the same until he was sent to the hospital a short time before his discharge from the service. He is a member of William Pa_vne Post, G. A. R., at Pardeeville. Our subject was married December 23, 1855, to Mary Ann Wait, a daughter of Lee Warner and Lydia (Stearns) Wait, of Paw- let, Vermont, where Mrs. Hodges was born. Mrs. Hodges is a granddaughter of Dei- dama (Warner) Wait, a sister of Colonel Seth Warner of Revolutionary fame. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, who are as follows : Anna, now Mrs. Leon Pope, of Wyocena; Emma, de- ceased; Hattie, deceased; May, deceased; Edwin T., of \\'yocena ; Maude, who mar- ried John Price, and is deceased ; lulna died in childhood ; Charles, deceased ; and Bes- sie, residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have six grandchildren. The family at- tend the Congregational churcli, and are held in the highest esteem in the commu- nity in which they have their home. Mr. Hodges voted for Eremont, and has since been a Republican politically, and the 6th of November, 1900, voted for INIcIvinley. FRITZ DrrTBENDER. Eritz Dittbender, a prominent stock raiser of Quincy township, Adams county, residing on section nineteen, who, with his sons, owns about seven hundred acres of land, is one of the early settlers of that re- gion. He was born in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 183 1, and was the son of John and Louisa (Ealk) Dittbender, of Berlin. His father was a farmer by occupation. Of four children our subject was the youngest, and attended school imtil four- teen years of age, after which, until twenty- seven years of age, he worked on a farm, and then served in the German army for tliree years. He came to America in 1S58, locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in i860 purchased one hundred acres of land ii, Quincy township, Adams county. He made section 19 his home, and has erected a comfortable dwelling and barns. He and his sons make a specialty of stock raising, and for a number of years have marketed large numbers annually, and at present have aljout se\-enty head. They cultivate about two hundred acres of land to rye, corn and potatoes, and have met with success, both in grain and stock raising. Mr. Dittbender was married in July, 1858, to Johanna Dittman, daughter of Nicholas and Anna Dittman, of Quincy. Mrs. Dittbender died in 1862, leaving two cliildren, as follows: August, nuw farm- ing in Quincy township; and ^lary, now Mrs. Roskouskie, of Chicago. Mr. Ditt- bender married Lena Stevens, daughter of Lduie and I'anny Stevens, of Jackson town- shij), Adams county, January 24, 1863. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dittbender, as follows : Louie, born Octo- ber 2y, 1864; Eanny, born October 15, 1866, now Mrs. C. Ganther, of Necedah ; Minnie, born May 5, 1868, now Mrs. J. Lobenstein, of Germantown; Ered, born August 11, 1871, farming in Quincy township; Charles, born June 11, 1880, now residing at home; William, born August 3, 1882; and Henry, born October 5, 1884. Louie Dittbender was aflforded good edu- cational advantages, and at the age of seventeen* went into the pineries of Wood and other counties, and worked for fourteen winters. He was on the drive on the Yel- low river and the Tomahawk river. At the age of thirty-one years he went to farming on his land in sections 18 and 19, in Quincy township, Adams count}', and has a well- improved tract comprising three hundred COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 321 and sixty acres. He also assists his father with the work on the home farm, and the father and son are counted as among the foremost men of their caHing. Fritz Dittbender is a member of the Lutheran church of Quincy, and is a gen- tleman of the highest character. He does not advocate the principles of any one party, but lends his influence for the best govern- ment, and does not take an active interest in political affairs. He has witnessed the de- velopment of Adams county, and has been a potent factor in its advancement. He is thorough and practical in his business, and has gained a competence through honest ef- forts. The community where he has made his home lor so many years are well ac- quainted with his characteristics, and he oc- cupies a high place in the minds of his as- sociates. JAMES W. COAPMAN. James W. Coapman was born in Halls- ville, Montgomery county, New York, Sep- tember 29, 1839, and resided there upon his father's farm, with the exception of about two years, 1852-53, spent as clerk in a drug, book and variety store at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York, kept by his uncle, James W. Cronkhite, and Samuel F. Bennett, co-partners. His father, John Coapman, married Hannah Cronkhite, of the town of Minden, Montgomery county. New York. Three brothers, Norman, An- son and Abram D., and one sister, Mary E., were born on the old homestead, as was also the father. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the Mohawk valley in New York, and the farm on which he and the other children were born was in posses- sion of the Coapman family for over one hun- dred years. His great-grandfather, Abram ■Coapman, held a major's commission under General Stark in the Revolutionary war, and his grandfather, Jacob Coapman, held a captain's commission in the war of 181 2. His father, John Coapman, was a militia captain in Montgomery county. New York. In March, 1855, his father having disposed of the homestead, the eldest son, Xnrman, and his wife and their infant daughter, Alice L, and James \V. came to Wiscon- sin, the father having about a year ])efore visited the state and made extensix'e pur- chases of land in the township of Pacific. They were on the first passenger train that crossed the suspension bridge at Niagara Falls en route. The other members of the fanfily, with the exception of the mother, who died April 22, 1845, c'ame on within a year or two. What is known as the Ellis farm, east of \Vyocena about two nfiles, was rented by the 'ather for one year, to which place Norman and wife, infant daugh- ter, Alice I., and James W. removed soon after arrival in the state. One year there- after they removed to Wyocena. The mother having died, leaving five children cjuite young, they together with the father made it their home with the eldest brother, Norman, and wife. His sister, Mary, however, who resided with an uncle and aunt mostly since the death of the niuther, never resided very long in the state. The subject of this sketch attended school diligently for two years after coming to Wisconsin, and in 1857 entered the law office of Hill & Emery at Port- age, and pursued the study of that profes- sion until March 19, i860, at which time he was adnutted to the bar at Portage. Harlow S. Orton was at that time judge of the Ninth judicial circuit, which includ- ed Columbia county. After admission to the bar Mr. Coapman did not immediately enter into the practice of law extensively, but followed other pursuits until at length, when the demand of the government for a". d-22 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. available men to enlist and go to the front vas made, he considered the call personal to himself and enlisted in the General Mount- ed Service of the U. S. A., at Madison, Wisconsin. January 26, 1864, and served three years. Being in the regular army his discharge cculd not be obtained until the full expiration of his term of service. He was taken iirisoner at Hagerstown. ^lary- land. in the spring of 1864, together with others, whu were doing picket duty at Funkstown. General McClausland, of Gen- eral Early's command, intercepted them when returning from picket and completely cut them off from returning to their head- quarters. He, with other comrades, were ultimately taken to Andersonville, where they remained six months and were then transferred to Savannah, Georgia, at \\-hich latter place he with some others escaped and remained concealed until Sherman's army released them, December, 1864. ^Ir. Coap- man wrote up the reminiscences of his prison life, several years ago and they were pub- lished in a serial in the "Daily and Weekly Democrat." of Portage, occupying about fourteen ordinary newspaper columns. At the expiration of his war service ilr. Coapman settled in Kewaunee, Wiscon- sin, and engaged in the practice of law. He was elected to the office of district at- torne}- of Kewaunee county in 1878 and lield that office one term. He was also ap- pointed United States court commissioner for the eastern district of \\'isconsin about this time. For some time after leaving Kewaunee .Mr. Coapman followed other business and did not engage activeh- in the practice of h.is profession. He is now, how- ever, located at Portage and is in active practice. He is court commissioner of the countv. having received the appointment from judge R. G. Siebecker. In politics IMr. C. has always been a Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., Rousseau Post, Xo. 14, of Portage. Of the members of the family his father and brothers, Nor- man and Anson, died in Wisconsin. His father died at Wyocena, January 25, 1873. Xorman, the eldest brother, died at the same place April 6, 1878, leaving his wife and four children surviving, viz : Mrs. Alice I. Todd, of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Mrs. Ida M. Farrington. of Arcadia, \\'isconsin; W. J. Coapman, of Xeedles. California, and Lynn X. Coapman. of Wyocena. who was for many years railroad agent of that place, but who is now a partner of the firm of Coapman & Irwin, doing a general mercan- tile, grain and stock business at Wyocena. Anson Coapman, the second son, died at his home in Pacific, January 10, 1896, leav- ing surviving his wife and two children,, viz : Mrs. Florence G. Older, of Portage, and Fred J. Coapman, who, with his son, Verne, resides upon the homestead in Pa- cific. Mrs. Anson Coapman also resides there. Abram D. Coapman is railroad agent at Columbus, \\'isconsin. He has been con- tinuously in the service of the St. Paul Company as agent for upwards of thirty- five years. He has three children. His eldest son, Burt, is trainmaster of a division of the Illinois Central Railroad. The sec- ond son, Frank, is dispatcher at West Pull- man, Chicago. The third son, Wallie, still a boy, is at home with his father and mother. The only sister of the family, ]\Irs. !Mary E. Easton, and her husband reside at Rich- field Springs, Otsego county, X"ew York. The\' ha\-e two children, both of whom are married. Fred Easton is a physician in practice at S3"racuse, X'ew York. Their daughter, ^Irs. \Mnifred ^laud Dodd, and her husband, Dallas Dodd, reside in Utica, Xew York. 'Sir. C. was twice married. His first wife was Miss Anna E. Teed, of Port Washington, Ozaukee count}^ \^'^isconsin. Two children were born to them, ^label, COMPnNDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 323 who died in infancy, and Eloise May, who resides with her mother at Wauwatosa, Wis- consin. His second wife was Miss Eva J. Spicer. of Pardeeville. No children were born of this marriage. L.\FAYETTE MORTTER KELLEY. Among the brave men wiio devoted the opening years of their maniiood to tlie de- fense of our country from tiie internal foes who sought lier dismemberment, was tlie subject of this review, now a prominent farmer of W'infield townsliip, Sank county, Wisconsin. He was burn in Meredith. Bel- knap county, Xew Hampshire, February 4, 1847, and is a worthy representative cjf an old and very patriotic family of New Eng- land, his parents being Charles R. and Eliza J. (Dearborn) Kelley. His ancestors were from Ireland, and on account of Cromwell's edicts came to America in 163J and were among the first settlers of Dover. New Hampshire. Their descendants participated in the early Indian wars and the paternal great-grandfather of our suliject ser\-e(l with distinction as a major in a New \'ork regi- ment of the Continental army during the Revolution, while the grandfather, 'i'imothy Kelle\', was a soldier of the war nf 181J and took part in the battle of Plattsl)urg. Unfortunately the records of the famil}^ were destroyed in the Boston fire of 1872. Charles R. Kelley, our subject's father, was a native of Sanbornton, New Hamp- shire, and for some time was a militiaman in that state. His com])any \\as called out during the war with Mexico, but being a strong Abolitionist and opposed to war, he resigned. He was one of the promoters of the "underground railroad," and assisted fugitive slaves escaping from New (3rleans boats at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on their wav to Canada. Bv trade he was a tanner and currier and operated a tannery at Meredith village for many years. In 1854 he sold his interests in the east and came to Wisconsin, spending one year at Baraboo, and then locating on a farm on section 14, W'infield township, Sauk county, where he died July 4. 1889, at the age of seventy-fiiur years. He was a man highly respected by all wlm knew li'm and had manv warm friends in this cnmty. His wife, who is now in her eightieth year, was born at Fort Ann, Washington county. New York, and is a daughter of George and Mar- tha (Demerit) Dearborn. Her father was a native of Ossijiee, New Hampshire, whence he went to Fort Ann. He was of English descent and a cousin of General Dearborn, who won fame in the war of 1812. He was also in the conflict and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. Hs wife was born in Canada of French lineage, and her mother was a sister of the grandmother of the famous "Long Ji.ihn Wentworth," of Chicago. Since a small boy La Fayette M. Kelley has made his home in Sauk county, and has borne his part in her upbuilding and de- velopment. In response to the president's call for more troops to aid in putting down the Rebellion, he enlisted. Deciiviber 20, 1863. in Comi)any ]]. Twelfth Wisconsin \'olunteer Infantr_\-, and served under Gen- eral Sherman through the Atlanta cam- paign until July 28, 1864, when he was wounded at Ezra Chapel, near Atlanta, and was then confined in different h{)spitals un- til honorably discharged July 15. 18.55. ^^ shell struck his right side, caus'ng a severe wound and leaving a terrible scar. He had two brothers who were also in th.e service, Charles E. being a member of Company F, Fifty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and George W., a member of Company F, 'i liird Wisconsin Cavalry. A few years after the .war Mr. Kellcv became interested 824 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. in farming on his own account in Winfield township, where he now owns a well im- proved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred acres on section i6. On the 6th of November, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kelley and Miss Mary E. Wener, a native of Burling- ton, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Charles and Dorothea (Kiber) Wener, of Reedsburg. Her father, who was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a blacksmith by occupation, died in Burlington. Her mother afterward married Peter Enser, who came to Reeds- burg in 1852. He enlisted March 4, 1862, in Company A, Nineteenth Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, was captured at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and confined in Libby prison for gix months. He was mustered out June 21, 1865, and died at Reedsburg, in Febru- ary, 1897, at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Kelley's mother died at the same place in March, 1888, at the age of seventy- four. The children born to our subject and his wife are as follows: James H., an engineer residing in Winfield township; Mary M., wife of C. Lindkugel, of Spencer, South Dakota ; Iva, a resident of Janesville, Wis- consin; Mabel H., a teacher of Spencer, South Dakota ; Charles R. ; Inez ; Ida ; Walter R. ; La Fayette M. ; Ella M. ; and Florence E. All have received good educa- tional advantages. Mr. Kelley assisted in organizing H. A. I'ator Post, G. A. R., at Reedsburg, and has since been one of its most prominent and active members, serving as adjutant three terms, as senior vice commander and as commander two terms, being the present in- cumbent in the last named office. For many years he affiliated with the Republican party, but is now an advocate of the free coinage of silver at a ratio of sixteen to one, and he has most capably and satisfactorily served as assessor, treasurer and justice of the peace in ^^'infieId tuwnship. AMOS BROWN. Amos Brown, residing on section 23, in Easton township, Adams county, is a pio- neer settler of that region. He was born in Scott, Cortland county, New York, No- vember 9, 1828, and was the son of Sidney and Lovina (Salisbury) Brown. The father of our subject came to Adams county and settled in Easton township in 1854, taking one hundred and sixty acres of government land, and engaged in farm- ing. The house now occupied by his sons stands on that tract. The father died in November, 1869, and the mother died in October, 1873, and both rest in Easton cem- etery. Amos Brown attended school until eight- een years of age, after which he worked at the carpenter's trade during the summer months, and in the winter chopped stove wood, which was sold at Homer, a village in his native county. He came with his parents to Adams county when aliout twen- ty-five years of aee, traveling by rail to Chicago, thence by water to Milwaukee, and the rest of the journey by rail to White- water. He remained in Lake Mills, Jef- ferson county, one summer and in the fall of 1854, on September 15, arrived at White Creek. He worked at the carpenter's trade one summer and returned to Lake Mills, \\here he married. He resided in .\dams county until 1856, and then went to Eau Claire count)-, where he took one (juarter- stction of land and engaged in farming fur one year and eight months, and then traded the land for his farm in Adams county. Since that lime he has made his residence on section 23, in Easton townshii), having disposed of his farm to his son, who is en- gaged in mixed farming, and raises sheep and other stuck. Mr. Brown enlisted in Company K, Thirty-eiciith Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 325 try, October 27, 1864, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac in front of Peters- burg. He was there until the close of the war, and was discharged in June, 1865. Our subject was married, September 6, 1855, to Jane D. Young, daughter of Will- iam and Philena (Bass) Young, of Oak- land, Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Brown -died March 21, 1897, and was buried in Easton cemetery. Eleven chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, only two of whom are living, as follows: Lorana E., now Mrs. Eddy, of Easton; and Edwin A., now in charge of the home farm. Edwin A. Brown was married September 24, 1893, to Maggie Buchanan, daughter of Harry and Mary (McKinley) Buchanan, cf Lincoln, Adams county, Wisconsin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, as follows: Ernest .V., burn ^larch 22, 1896; and Edith A., born April 9, 1898. Amos Brown is a member of Eunis Reed Post, No. 209, G. A. R., and has been commander of the local post, and is promi- nent in G. .\. R. matters. He has lieen chairman of the township board for two years, and takes an active interest in the welfare of his conmumity. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, but does not seek public office. He is loyal to his coun- try, and is held in the highest esteem by his large circle of acquaintances. Both he and his son are well known as prosperous and progressive agriculturists, and well merit success. JOHN HENDERSON HOUSTON. John Henderson Houston, one of the most progressive citizens of Randolph town- ship, Columbia county, Wisconsin, is pro- prietor of an elegant estate and commands the highest esteem of liis associates. Our subject was born in Edinburg. Scotland, April 6, 1837, and was a son of Peter and Margaret (Henderson) Houston. The name was originally written Houstoun and the family was founded by a Roman in Britain and the last titled member of the family was Sir John Houston. The father of our subject was born near Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, July 6, 1806, and died in Columbia county, Wisconsin, July 21, 1882. He became a building contractor at the age of twenty-two years and conducted an extensive business. He employed about two hundred mechanics and was his own draftsman. He erected many buildings in Edinburg, Glasgow and other cities, among them some of the principal churches, resi- dences and business places. He met with linancial reverses and about 1843 came to America and spent about three years in New York City and Albany, New York, thence to Milwaukee, and in November, 1847, settled in the town of Scott, Columbia county, where he resided until his death. Pie took two hundred acres of government land anil became a successful farmer. In common with many other public-spirited men he mortgaged his farm to promote the construction of the Milwaukee & La- Crosse Railroad through Columbia county, suffering heavy losses in consequence. He was a member of the Board of Commission- ers of Wisconsin Railroad Farm Mortgage Land Company, appointed by the governor of ^Visconsin to dispose of certain lands forfeited by the railroad company, and ap- portion the proceeds among the sufferers. He devoted considerable time to the per- fi'rmance of this duty, which consumed a luunljer of years, and tlie business was not ei:tirely closed at his death. He filled numer- ous positions in the county, and ran far ahead of his ticket for state senator, hav- ing been nominated by the Greenback party and endorsed by the Democratic party. He was a man of liberal views on relio-ion !i"Jt> co^frnxnn'^f oi' nioaR.iriiv. aiul oihor suhjocis a\u\ was a luiiaiian in sciuiinoul. riio graiul lather of ovir svihiooi, IVior llousioii. was a tenant fanner near .\nchterariler. Pertlisltire, and was a son of Amlrew llonston. of Tnllyhardine. He was n\aTried to Mary Sl\iart. a represetua- tive of the Seolel* family of that name. The n\otl\er of onr snl\iect, Marj^aret t lleniler- son^l I lvn>ston, was horn in h\Unhnrj;~h, Scotland, where she veoeiveil excellent edn- calional advatttajjx^s. She was a danjjhier of John Hetulersoti. who was the architect of a lar^ij;X" distillerv in that city anvl speiu liis hfc as an architei-t. He nuvrrietl (.lark Ross, of a Uijihlatid family anil a Uuly of nvre attainments, who rcanxl a family of fonr or tue chiKhxMi in a nuxsi exenxplary manner. The tnother of our suhject ilie^l (.Vtoher t4, t8o7v agxxl eighty-tne years, IVter and Mars'tuTl Houston wore the ivxreuts of tlux^e cliiKlivn mwv living; ami three who dieil in in- faticy. The surviving chiKh-en are as Ul- lows ; Peter, residing- in Randolph township. Columbia o^nnuy ; John H,. our subject ; and Pax id HeudersvMi. The latter jvsides near Hunter, North Hakota. and is a j^rosiK^Tous farmer a?>d rancher. He eng;iges in seeil gnwving auvl is alsi^ an exjiert photographer and has gxxineil a gvxxl cv^mx^tence tnnu vari- tnts ^Kitenie^l appliances and principles v plnnv^giaphy. his chief devise being the Ki>- d;.k canwra. He is a registerevl |>atent at- tv^ruey and six^uvls nnich of his time iu Wash- ir:glv>n. and in hkx> visiteil the l^jris Kxix>- sitii>n, l-'or full biography of this so»i see Historj- of North Hakotn, publisheil in locv^, Johtx Henderson Houston has residcvl i- (.Vr.;r.bia cvntniv. \Viscx>ns;n, .since he \\,~.< so\on \x\irs of agw and he enjovetl the best advtuuasx-^s atYor\leil by the district sch<>^l. I le sixMit.oue winter in the Business <- , ■.'e5jx> at Milwaukee, and aK^ut 1800 Kn»ght his prx^ent tanu iu sections Ji) and 30 in RanvK^ljxli K>\^^^sh^|v He has ilis- jx\seil of sonw of his acreage', but still re- runs ;»i>om iwo hundred acres. His home farm is ei|uipped with tirst class buildings and all modern improvements and his house i> .surrounded by a tine grove of evergreens and other trees, forming a beautiful p:\rk. while the apixnntments of the home evidence culture and rermement. He has a care- fully .selected library and choice collection of portraits and engravings, some of which are treasured family heirlooms. In the late "(x^s he was larg-ely interested in hop culture, Inu after the collap.se in the market in that product he turned his atteiuion tv> other spe- cialties. He has made a business of introduc- ing and growitig tine varieties of grains and .seevls, and he ships .seetl grain to all parts of the I'uitevl States, and has fur- nished grain to the agTicnltural de\>artuient ui W'a.shiugtou, He has made a sjiecialty of breeilittg tine horses for some years past, raising Ixith draft ami carriag^e horses, and has also given attention to Durham cattle. Mr. Houston is a metnber of the Ma- .sonic fraternity, Cambria Lcxlg-e, Xo. 15.?, A. F. & .\. M. ; Fort W'innebagv Chapter, aiul Fort Winuekigv^ Commandery, Knights Templar, and has b.eld all the honors with- \ in the gift of the local Kxlg-e. He is a free ! thinker and is a Republican pi>litjcally. He : diMy; not seek public office, but has filleil uu- j inerous local jxvsitions of trust and eiii \s ' the cvMjtideuce of his fellows. 1: n\\ ARD J. FISHER. Among the most attractive rural homes of Spring-\ille townisliip. Adams county, Wi.sconsin, is that of Air. Fisher, a view of i which is shown on another i>age in this ' volume, the culture and artistic taste of its owner being reflected in its appoint- < ments;, wjiile a gracious hospitality adds to its material comforts. He is one of i!ie COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 329 most progressive and successful agriculttu'- ists of the community, and takes special de- light in his home, sparing no pains or ex- pense in making it attractive. John E. Fisher, father of our subject, was b(_irn in Berlin, German}', April 17, 1832, and was a civil engineer by profession. At the age of twenty he went to Denmark, where he married Teressa Rafen. In 1883 the}^ came to America and located in Gray- Img, Michigan, where they still reside. In tJieir family were seven children, namelv : Minnie C., born February 19, 1852, is the wife of John Otson, of Denver, Colo. ; Hattie M., born July 3, 1855, married Rasmus Rasmussen antl died May 25, 1899; C. William, born April 26, 1858, married Marie Jorgenson and lives in Grayling, Michigan; ]\Iarie C., born April 10, 1864, is the wife of Nels P. Olson, of Grayling; Annie C., born November 12, 1866, is the wife of Chris Larson, of Grayling; and Amelia, born May 10, 1872, is the wife of Edward Sorrenson, of the same place. Edward J. Fisher, the lifth of this fam- ily, was born in Tuggeler, Denmark. iVpril 17, 1861, and was educated in a Lutheran college of his native land. He came to America, in 1881, the year before his parents, and located in Sioux City, Iowa, where he remained a short time and then went 10 Grayling, ^lichigan. In 1884 he removed to ililwaukee, and after eighteen months spent in that city he came to Springville township, Adams county, Wisconsin, where he at first purchased eighty acres of land on section 22. and later another eighty acres on section 15, Springville township, to which he added another eighty on section 22 and forty acres on section 15. In 1886 he returned to ^lilwaukee and engaged in busi- ness there until 1894, when he again took up liis residence upon his farm in Adams county. When he first located thereon not a tree had been cut or an inipro\ement made. but soon acre after acre was placed under the plow and he now has one hundred a;id live acres under a high state of culti\ation. His fine residence is surrounded by good outbuildings, and the place is supplied with all modern machinery needed by the pro- gressive farmer of the present day. On the 29th of December, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fisher and Carrie Nelson, who was born in Kolding, Denmark, November 20, 1859, and came to America in 1883, locating first in New York. Later she lived for a time in Port Amboy, New Jersey, and Denver, Colorado, and finally settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she became accjuainted with Mr. Fisher. They have one daughter, living at home, Anna Peterson Fisher. Mr. Fisher is a member in good standing of the IModern Woodmen of America, and is highly re- spected by all who know him. He is a shrewd, reliable business man, who has won success in life by his own industry, enter- prise and good management, and as an en- terjirising and progressive citizen he gives his support to every enterprise which he be- lie\'es will result in pulilic good. JOSEPH TEAL. Joseph Teal, one of the oldest and most respected pioneer citizens of Sauk county, Wisconsin, has been for many }'ears an in- fiuential citizen of Fairfield township. He was born in the township of Wilmot, ]Mer- rimack county. New Hampshire, Xo\-em- ber 22, 1827, and is a son of Benjamin and Thede (Morrill) Teal, both natives of the Granite state. The senior Teal was born in Concord and his ancestors settled at Boston at an early day, wdiere Aaron Teal, ' the grandfather of our subject, carried on a Initcher sliop. Two of his brothers served 830 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY in the Revolutionary army. One of these, Samuel Teal, was an officer and was present at the battle of Lexington. Removing to New Hampshire, Aaron Teal engaged in farming at Wilmot, where he lived to at- tain the age of ninety-five years and six montlfs. His wife, Rebecca, lived to be one hundred and one years old. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, and reared a family of four sons and five daughters to maturity, and of these Benjamin was the oldest son. He removed from New Hampshire in 1855 and located in Essex county, New York, where he engaged in lumbering. He was a farmer later on in St. Lawrence county, of the same state, and in 1844 he came to Illinois, and liveil a year at Crystal Falls. He came by the lakes from Ogdensburg to Chicago, and was eighteen days on the route. About a year later he drove two yoke of oxen through to Sauk county, Wis- consin, where a government survey had been made the previous season and the land thrown open to settlement. He and his sons took up three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 7 and 8, Fairfield township. They broke a few acres that summer and spent the following winter on Webster Prairie. In the spring of 1846 he took possession of his Fairfield land and applied himself earnestly to its improvement. He built a log house and lived an industrious and useful life. He was born with the cen- tury, and died in 1884, having enjoyed good health until almost eighty years. His wife died in 1869. She was a native of Wilmot, New Hampshire, where her father was a carpenter, and .spent his life. She was the mother of seven children : Hannah is the widow of P. J. Pershall, and has her home in Fairfield township; Joseph is the subject of this article; Lucy married Benja- min Clark and is now deceased ; Rebecca married James Butler, and is now deceased ^her second husband was AVyman Getch- ell; Aaron lives in Fairfield; Susan is the" widow of Porter Buck, and has her home in Baraboo; Almina is Mrs. Joseph Hackett, of Fairfield. Joseph Teal came into Sauk county with his parents and in 1862 went to Carroll county, Missouri, where he spent two years. At the expiration of this time he came back to Wisconsin, and in 1866 settled in Valley Junction, Monroe county, Wisconsin, where he spent six years on a farm, at the same time becoming somewhat interested in cran- berry culture. He was quite prominent in local aft'airs at that time, and was township assessor for three years, and chairman of the town board for one year. He was on a farm near Wilson, St. Croix county, Wis- consin, for six years, but for many years past has been a resident of Sauk county, occupying the -land which he "claimed" in 1845, although not old enough to make his title good until three years later. He now owns a hundred acres of good land, on which he long ago placed very substantial improvements. Generally throughout his life he has been a Democrat, but he votetl for Abraham Lincoln during the Civil war. He is now an enthusiastic supporter of \\'ill- iam Jennings Bryan. Mr. Teal is a member of the Sauk coun- ty old settlers' society, and with his br(_)ther, Aaron, is the oldest sur\-iving pioneer of Fairfield tijwnshii). When they came there two families named Anderson, a Norwegian, and Brunson living in the townslvip. The r.earest grist-mill was at Dekorra, and for some timetheTeals and their neighbors lived on meal ground in a coft'ee mill. The first grist-mill built in Sauk county was a crude afl^air and put up on Leech creek in Fair- field township, l)y Mr. Brunson. His first and only customer was a man who lirought some corn from, a considerable distance, who finding that its reduction to meal was likely to be a long and tedious process, went home COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 331 lo wait several days. When he came back expecting- to find his grist ready, he was surprised to be informed that there was none, the Brunsons having consumed it as fast as ground. That rate of toll did not prove liberal enough to at- tract any more custom. Mr. Teal has always been a vigorous man. When he lived on Webster Prairie he walked four miles daily to feed the cattle that had been left on the Fairfield farm. He walked once to Crystal Lake, Illinois, and spent four days on the journey, and paid out one dol- lar as expenses. He was always a success- ful hunter; he shot many deer while Sauk county was new, and says that he used to see as many as twenty in a drove passing his house. Joseph Teal and jMary Frances Getchell, the latter a native of Sebec, Maine, were married in Delton, Wisconsin, October 19, 1852. She was a daughter of Mace Getchell, a shoemaker, who came into" Sauk county in 1850. Here he engaged in farming in ^airfield township, and was elected as the first justice of the peace in the town. Mrs. Mary Teal died in October, 1896. She was the mother of nine children, four of wIkjiu are li\ing: Albert; Arthur died when seven years (jjd ; Llurr was burn May ,^0, 1859, and is living near Salem, Oregon; Curtis H. was born March 28, 1861, and died April 22, 1883; Carrie F. was born April 5, 1866, and is now Mrs. Abel Parker, of St. Croix county, Wisconsin ; Minnie C. was born April 12, 1868, and is now Mrs. John Sneller, of Baraboo. A special paragraph may well be given to Albert Teal. He was born December 2y, 1854, and grew to manhood under the pa- rental roof. When he was twenty-five years old he went to St. Croix county, Wis- consin, and spent seven years in farm work, at the same time devoting considerable at- tention to the studv of agriculture. Since 1890 he has lived on the homestead farm ^nd applied himself to its cultivation. He was married March 18, 1897, to Louisa Roser, a daughter of Christian and Louisa Roser, of the town of Baraboo. Mrs. Teal is the mother of two children, Mary and Ar- thur. Mr. and Mrs. Teal are highly com- mended by their neighbors as excellent peo- ple who are both industrious and accommo- dating, of strong moral character and frugal habits. JEREMIAH MERRILL SCHOFF. Jeremiah Merrill Schofi^, one of Adams county's most respected citizens, is a resi- dent of Easton township, where he is known a,^ a model farmer and thorough-going busi- nelss man. Mr. Schofi:' was Iiorn at Brasher, St. Lawrence county. New York, December 8, 1826, son of Jeremiah and Sophia (Wood- bury) Schoff, who came from Vermont and settled in St. Lawrence county about the year 1816, and engaged in farming. Jere- miah SchofT died in i860 and the mother in 1858. Both are buried in Franklin coun- ty. New York. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth. Jeremiah Merrill Schoff was reared to manhood in his native state, working at home during the summer months and attending school in winter. He learned the cooper's trade at the age of twenty years, and worked two or three years in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1848 he went to California, going from Boston by water, via Cape Horn, and the trip to San Francisco consumed a period of one hundred and ninety-four days. Fie went to El Dorado county, where he worked in the mines for about two years, meeting with fair success in his adxcnlures. However, l"iis health failed him, and he returned to 88i COMPnXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Boston, l)y way of the Istlimus of Panama, and the \-essel was seventy days from San Francisco to Panama. He worked about one year in Bostdn, and then returned tii Brasher, Xew Ytirk, purchased fifty acres of land and l)uih upon it a residence and barn, and thorough!)^ impro\ed his farm. He conducted tliis farm al:)out ten years, tlieu sohl it and came to Easton, Adams county, W'iscMusiu, arri\-ing tiiere in 1864. He purchased eighty acres of hmd, most of wliich was in a state of nature, and this he lias ctdti\ated and inii)rii\ed, erecting a nice residence, good barns and outbuildings, and ■making such modern impmvements as are of practical utility in the process of agriculture. He is now the t)wner of eighty acres of ex- cellent land. Air. Sciioff was married June 12, 1S54. to Arabella, daughter df Roderick and Isa- bella (McKenzie) Grant. The family came from Stratlimore, Scotland, about the year 1832, and settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia, where representatives of the family still live. Roderick Cjrant dietl January 30, 1887, and his wife January 5, 1888, the former at the age of ninety years and the latter at the age of eighty-seven. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Schoff have four children, named as follows: Emma, born May S, 1855, now Mrs. B. Dunn, of La Crosse ; Abbie, born September 19, 1857, now Mrs. \\'. Irwin, ot Adams; Dana M., born August 8, 1862, now a farmer of Easton. Wisconsin ; and Nettie, born September 11, 1864, now Mrs. C. Lamphere, of Chicago. Air. Schoff is a Rei)ublican in political faith, and takes much interest in public mat- ters. He has served his township in the cajiacity of treasurer for a number of _\-ears, and his faithfulness to his duties has won him the confidence of all withf Roliert Ellis, a native of Wales and an early settler of Ci:ilumbia county, Wisconsin. Our sul)- jtct and his wife ha\'e three children: Anna M., Catherine and Roderick. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Presbyterian church at Portage, and the family is one of culture and refinement. Mr. Rice afiiliates, with the Re]niblican party, keeps well in- formed on the leading questions and issues (!! the day, and has served as justice of the peace one year, and town clerk from the spring of 1896 to that of 1900. JOHN OWEX, Dece.\sed. John Owen, deceased, founder of "The Welsh settlement" in the town of Caledonia, Columbia county, was one of the representa- ti\'e pioneers of Wisconsin and a \'i_ilumc de\oted to the purpose of this work would be incomplete without a suitable tribute to his memory. To him and his descendants is due much of the prosperity which that town has enjoyed and they have exerted a marked influence in shaping the moral and ir.tellectual equalities, for which the people of that town anil county are justly famed. Mr. Owen was a native of Llanelltyd, Merionethshire, Wales, and the history of his life illustrates many of the sterling char- 334 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. acteristics for which the people of his race have always been distinguished. In his na- tive land he followed the pursuit of agricult- ure and also dealt in coal to some extent, earning a comfortable living for his growing family in that manner until 1846, when he came with them to the United States. A few months were spent in Racine county, \Msconsin, Avhence, in September of the same year, the migration was continued as far as Columbia county. This part of the journey was accomplished with ox teams, the family with all its effects being trans- ported in one wagon. Crossing the ^^'is- consin ri\er at Portage they started to as- cend the Baraboo valley, encamping for the night on section 21, township 12, range 8, and, owing to the persuasion of his wife, who had become heartily tired of travel, ^Ir. Owen finally decided to make his home on that spot. He and his family lived in their covered wagon until a log cabin could be erected, in which they spent the winter. Finding that this location offered a de- sirable combination of timber, meadow and Avater, he and his sons set themselves in- dustriously about the improvement of the premises and eventually became the owners of a number of fine farms, including several thousand acres, with extensive flocks and herds. At first their only neighbors w'ere a band of Winnebago Indians, with whom they sustained the most friendly relations and from whom they obtained more or less of the winter's provisions. Half a century later there remained but one representative of this tribe in the town of Caledonia. In 1847 the Owens were joined b}' two or three families of their countrymen and this little settlement became the nucleus of an extensive colony, which included a num- ber of the most thrifty and influential peo- ple of the county. This colony has always been a center of moral and intellectual culture and the homes of which it is com- posed are uniformly noted for the prevalence of hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Owen died in 1866, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Edwards, survived him until January, 1872, passing away at the age of sevent)^-two years, her birth having occurred very near the beginning of the nineteenth century. This worthy couple were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, named as follows: Laura (Mrs. William Williams), Wilham, David, Owen J., Aim (Mrs. Thomas Rice), Griffith, John, Edward and Richard. Edward died of a fever contracted while in the United States army during the Civil war. ' Owen J. died of the same -complaint the next day. Ann and Richard are now the only survivors. In 1896, fifty-two )'ears after their arrival in Columbia county, the posterity of John and Margaret Owen had increased to the number of ninety-two persons, seventy-four of whom were then living. Mr. and Mrs. Owen were conspicuous for habits of industry and strict integrity, as well as their unbounded hospitality. They were adherents of the Calvinistic Methodist faith and alwa3'^s observed its teachings with conscientious devotion. Dur- ing the journey to this county religious services were held regularly in the wagon, which constituted their temporary home, and this custom was continued after their arrival. When other \\^elsh families began to settle near them they were invited to join in these services and at the earliest opportunit}' a church was built near their home, in which ser\-ices are still conducted ill the Welsh language, their descendants forming a good share of the congregation. Some member of the family has always served as chorister and the art of music has received considerable attention from many of the number. Mr. Owen's religious sentiments were COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 385 doubtless inheritt ruts, Owen Pugfa and ; - -ere among the first people of their iocaiity to embrace Christianity. Tbey were accos- tomed to ride on horseback to attend serv- ices, carr}4ng a bag of meal to disguise their errand on account of the fanaticism of their neighbors. Owen Pugfa is r posed to have belonged to the line of ' GI;."iidv.-r. v. ho won some leader of his pejjie in resi^ _ pressi(Hi early in the fifteenth cenniry. iL\RTIX FRAXCIS FOLEY. Martin Francis F-. also add to the gaieral welfare and success. A native of Dayton. Ohio, he was bom April 27, 1867, and is a son of Timothy and Margaret > Kf'deay) Foley. His mfaer, a rav.ve cf cv:~r\- Clare. Ireland, came v ilartin F. Foley was an infant xdaea his parents came to Sauk cotrrrt:-. H-'s prelim- inary- education was : : by a coarse in the Baraboo . ^ which he completed when seventeen years of age. He then entered the sers-ice of the Chicago & Northwestern Raii>'Qe4 Company, with ' T was connected some time. At of his brother James be returned •: charge of his father's farm, ued for a number of years, iie iiiea became agent for the Jewell Nur- sery Cornra--- f Lake Citj-, iEmiesota, rejMresei:- :ri for several years. He was oat - iTiccessfai salesmen, and had the soperintendency of a number of men. He afterward dealt extensivdy in nursery stock on his own account, makin g his headquarters in Reedsburg and empioy- ing a number of traveling representatives ~ -red and nge for :^-.re esten- - ' IJXC CX£CA^ |rK &^- Company, <-.- ~ presi- dent and general manager. The cafMtal stock of the corporation is twenty-five thou- sand dollars, and its grounds in the city of lev ha? T«i of being" onecoalled r_g in the railr.jad machine shops there ... :864, when he came to Sank county, \\'!5c:r.5:n. locating on a isrm in Ac town : ■ \\ ;-.-;e:d. Since 1898 he has lived re- tired :r. Baraboo. and is now 5e\-entv-nine .About twenty-five travehng salesmen are employed in introducing theL" goods into \-ari0u5 sections of the country, and the bu^ness now extends into a dozen or more states. Its sales are very extensive and the " rs rank among the leading tms in Sauk county. On Uie 4ih of September, 1889. ilr. Fo- 33G COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY. ley was united in marriasre to Miss Katie Timlin, daughter nf 'i'lmmas and i\Iar_\' Ann (Hayes) Timlin, of Sauk county. Thev now have two children, Eva and Laurine. 'Sh. Foley has erected one of the best resi- dences in the city of Baraboo, supplied with all modern conveniences, its furnishings in- dicating the cultured taste of the occupants. The household is celeljrated for its gracious hospitality, which is enjoyed by the large cir- cle of their friends. He is a valued member of several fraternal organizations, belong- ing to Maple Leaf Camp, No. 470, M. W. A., of Reedsburg; to Castle Hall Lodge, No. 142, K. P., also of Reedsburg, and is deputy grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, for Sauk county. For many years he gave his political support to the Democracy, and took an active part in po- litical affairs, but is now an advocate of the gold standard. His business career has been an honorable and ui)right one, and the reputation which he bears in commercial cir- cles is unassailable. Steadily has he worked liis \vay upward by determined purpose, un- llagging industry and keen discernment, and his success is therefore well merited. DEXTER S. HIvVTH. Dexter S. Lleath, one of the most suc- cessful farmers of Columbia county, is liv- ing retired from actix'e pursuits in a com- fortable home in Pardeeville, and is honored and esteemed by his fellowmen. He began life in humble surroundings and has la- bored honestly and earnestly to acquire a goodly proportion of property and has been rewarded for his labor. He was born in Cabot. \'ermont, September 30, 1831, and is a son of John and Ruth (Carr) Lleath, both of vi'hom were natives of Vermont. Our subject's father was a farmer in \"ermont and came to Wisconsin in 1S51, and settled in Marcellon township, Colum- bia county. He died there December 3;, 1876, aged eighty-five years. He was vig- orous for one of his years, and was a con- sistent member of the Methodist church. Our subject's mother was torn in Massachu- setts, but moved to \'ermont when she was a young girl. She died September 20, 1872, aged eighty years. Eleven children were born to this worthy couple, w!io were named as follows: Levi, William, Elizabeth,. Sarah, Martha, Rodolphus, Phineas C, Dex- ter S., Quincy, Rosetta and Susan. Our subject and three brothers are the only sur- vivors of the family. William and i'iodol- phus reside in Iowa, and Quincy resides in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Dexter S. Heath spent his boyhood on the farm in X'ermont, and in J 852 came with his parents to Wisconsin, wliere he lived ou the homestead farm for many years. He later owned 255 acres of land, \\-hich he brought to a high state of cultivation and in 1890 gave the farm to his sons and purchased another tract of 200 acres in Marcellon township, which he later gave to another son. He later bought a farm of 250 acres iii Springvalc, upon which he resided about two years and then gave it to a third son. Since 1895 he has resided in the village of Pardeeville, where he has erected a comfort- able and commodious residence, and enjoys a well-earned rest. Li early days he butcj^i- ered live stock and marketed it in the piner- ies. He hauled the lumber for his first house from Little Wolf river, a distance of about eighty miles. Each of his farms he has equipped with first class buildings, and he met with remarkable success in the pur- suit of agriculture. Our subject was married September 18, 1864, to Mrs. Mariette Langdon, widow of Asa Langdon, and daughter of Hugh and Mary (Ciulhery) Barker. Mrs. Heatli was COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 339 born in the town of Byron, Genesee county, New York, and came to Wisconsin in 1844. Her father came there about three years later and settled in Marcellon township. He died in Packwaukee, Wisconsin, in October, 1857, aged sixty- four years, about four years after the death of his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Heath are the parents of three sons, who are as follows: Allen D., born September JO, 1866, now residing on the homestead farm; Julius S., born January 29, 1869; and George A., born July 17, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Heath have nine grandchildren. Mrs. Heath is a member of the ^lethodist Episco- pal church of Pardeeville, and the famih- are highly esteemed in their communit%\ Our subject is a man of firm convictions and has filled various local ofiices of trust, but does not take an active part in political affairs; he is a Republican in sentiment. Portraits of both !Mr. and Mrs. Heath will be found on other pages in this volume. WILLIAM ERIGFREUXD AX.\CKER. William Erigfreund Anacker is ong of the leading and representative agriculturists of Fort ^\'innebago township, Columbia county, \\'isconsin. and has been actively identified with the development of this sec- tion of the state. Though Bom on the other side of the Atlantic, he is thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and that he is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes was manifest b)- his service in the Civil war. Mr. Anacker was bom in Herrenbrei tun- gen, near Schmalkaklen, Hesse Cassel, Ger- man}-, June I, 1840, and is a son of George Ludwig and .Amelia ( Kleimenhagen ) Anacker, who lived and died on a farm in tliat village. The father was a man of con- siderable prominence and influence, and served as alderman of the village for many years. His father, Henry .\nacker, was a man of education and culture, of whom more e.xtended mention is made in the sketch of Bernhardt Anacker on another page of this volume. Andrew Anacker, a brother of Henry, was a soldier in the Hessian army, and was sent to this countrj- among the troops hired by England during the Revo- Intionarj- war. He never returned to his native land. Our subject has in his posses- sion some silverware which once belonged to his maternal great-grandfather, Henry Kleimenhagen, who ser\ed as schultze, or mayor, of Herrenbreitungen for manv }-ears. He had four sons, one of whom was ]\Ioritz Kleimenhagen, our subject's grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation and an offi- cial in the Calvinistic church. Our subject is the oldest in a large family of children, of whom one died in childhood. The others are: Dorothea and Rosalie, who remained m Geraiany; Bernhardt W., a resident of Lewiston township, Columbia county, ^^'is- consin; Clemandina, wife of H. Hermann, of Portage, \\isconsin; Maria, wife of Ed. Shermer, of Caledonia township, Columbia coimty; Richard, of La Crosse, ^^'isconsin; Otto P., of St. Paul, Minnesota; Caroline, who remained in Germany; Amelia, widow of John Geymann, and a resident of Port- age, ^^'isconsin; and \\'illiam Henr\-, now in Alaska. \\illiam E. .Vnacker, of this review, re- ceived a good practical education in public and private schools of his native land, and remained there until twenty Aears of age, when he emigrated to .\merica, making the voj-age from Bremen to New York in' twen- ty-one days — the quickest passage ever made by a sailing ^"essel up to that date. He came direct to Columbia count}-, \\'iscon- sin, where he has since made his home. On the 2 1st of August. 1862, he entered the service of his adopted country, enlisting 340 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. in Company C, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the first attack on Vicksburg in December, 1862 ; was in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Ar- kansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion H Black River bridge, siege of Vicksburg, bat- tle of Jackson, Mississippi ; Grand Coteau, Louisiana ; Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River, Jackson, Louisiana ; Spanish Fort, Alabama ; Fort Blakely ; and some minor engagements. At Grand Coteau his cap was shot from his head, and his hair was grazed while being pursued by Confederate cavalry, but he es- caped b}' jumjiing across a creek and con- cealing himself in a grove. Only sixtv- seven out of his regiment were neither killed nor captured, and at the disastrous battle of Sabine Cross Roads he only escaped by run- ning through a cornlield. He was ap^. • corporal July i, 1864, and was honorably discharged from the service July 4, 1865. After the war Mr. Anacker was em- i:)loyed in a gristmill and brewery for a time. Li April, 1867, he bought one hun- dred and fifty-two acres of land in Fort Win- nebago township, to which he has since add- ed another tract of one hundred acres, only twenty-five acres of the entire amount having previously been cleared, but now one hundred acres have been placed under cul- tivation, and good substantial buildings have been erected thereon. A log house was the only building when he took up his residence there. In connection with general farming he gives some attention to the raising of small fruit. His farm is watered by fine springs, and there is a trout pond upon the premises, where he has caught rainbow trout weighing over five pounds and brook trout as large as three and a half pounds. This pond he stocked about six years ago with forty thousand fry from the state fish hatchery at Madison. Mr. Anacker was married. May 6, 1866, to Miss Dorothea Weidemann, a native of Iversplaben, Saxe Weimar, Germany, and a daughter of Nicholas and Catherine Wei- demann, who brought their family to Amer- ica in 1855 and settled in Lewiston town- ship, Columbia county, Wisconsin, one year later. Mrs. Anacker died December 2, 1889, aged forty-five years, two months and eight days, and of the eight children born to them four died in infancy. The others are Ottilie, wife of Albert Eberlein, of Blue Earth City, Minnesota; Charles O., at home; Louise A., wife of C. Selbach, of Portage, Wisconsin ; and Georee W., at home. Our subject also has four grandchildren: Frid- rich, Clarance, Artliur Eberlein, and Do- rothea Selbach. Mr. Anacker is a member of Trinity church, of Portage, and for a number of years past has been a member of the Colum- bia County Agricultural Society, and Rous- seau Post, No. 14, G. A. R., of Portage. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party. Although he never attended an English school, he has through his own ef- forts become conversant with the language, having learned to read English while in the army. The majority of his townsmen hold opposite political views from his, but rec- ognizing his worth and ability, they have called vipon him to fill many principal town- ship and school offices, and he commands the confidence and respect of his associates. CHRIST FRITZ. Christ Fritz, one of the most extensive stock raisers of Adams county, residing in the town of Ouincy, is well known as a gentleman who has aided in the transforma- tion of that country into one of the brightest spots in the state, and has helped to make Adams county popular as a thriving agri- cultural district. He is a progressive, and is possessed of a thorough knowledge of his COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 841 calling, which places him among the lead- ing farmers of his community. In further- ing the interests of his township he has ever given his hearty support, financially and otherwise, toward public enterprises, and has gained an enviable reputation wherever he is known. His estate comprises three hun- dred acres, and he has added such improve- ments as are found on modern farms. Mr. Fritz was born in West Prussia, Germany, January 9, 1843, ^'iJ ^^'^s the son of John and Mary Fritz. His father was a wood worker, and ran on boats on the Elbe river during the summer season. He emi- grated to America about 1870 and located in Dundee, Kane county, Illinois, where he resided with his daughter, Mrs. Scholt, un- til his death in 1889. The mother died in Germany in 185Q. Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fritz, our subject was the fourth in order of birth. He attended school until fourteen years of age, after which time he worked at farm work until he came to America in 1865. He located at Dundee, Illinois, and worked on a farm for six years. He went to Quincy, Adams county, in 1871, and pur- chased three hundred acres of land, upon which he has since resided. He erected a good residence and commodious barns, and miakes a specialty of stock raising. The farm is nicely located, and runs down to the Wis- consin river, and is acknowledged to be one of the best in the country. A ferry has re- cently been started across the river, Mr. Fritz having given the right of way for a period of twenty-five years. A market at Martyn for the people of Quincy township is thus opened, being nine miles to that place. Our subject is in possession of a medal awarded him by the World's Columbian Ex- position for winter wheat and silver hull buckwheat, raised on his farm, on old land, thus placing Adams county at the head of the grain raising counties of the state. Mr. Fritz was married in September, 1869, to Minnie Hintz, daughter of Fred and Mary (Streaving^i Hintz, of Dundee, Illinois. Mrs. Fritz's parents came to America from Germany about 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have been the parents of eleven children, as follows : Christ, at Dun- dee, Illinois ; William ; Charles, in West Su- perior; John, in Dundee, Illinois; Annie, in Elgin, Illinois; Franz, in Dundee, Illinois; i\Iartha, Mary, the two last named, twins, residing in Martyn; Minnie, at home; Al- bert, in Dundee; and Ernest, at home. Mr. Fritz is a member of the Lutheran church at Quincy. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He is a man of enlight- ened views and stands firmlv for right and good citizenship. He is an exemplary member of his community, and is public- spirited, and takes an active interest in mat- ters of local importance. He has spared no labor and painstaking care in making of his farm one of the model estates of Adams county, and thus raising the standard of ag- riculture. OSCAR CLARKE ELY. Oscar Clarke Ely, a prominent dairyman and general farmer, and postmaster at Spring Creek, residing in Monroe township, Adams county, has been a resident of that place since his boyhood days, and the farm v/hich is now his home is one he assisted his father in clearing for cultivation. When the family went to that region it was a wil- derness, and the present farm is one of the best to be found within the limits of Adams county, and the subject of this review is en- titled to much credit for the share he took in its transformation. He was but a young lad at the time of their early life there, but put his shoulder to the wheel and did what was in his power, and has been rewarded liv 342 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. witnessing tlie development of a thriving agricultural district, as well as individual gain. ■\lr. Elv was born July 22. 1839, at W'il- braham, Hampden county, Massachusetts, and was the son of Jonathan Dixon and Julia (Clarke) Ely. The family had lived in the county many years, and the father was a shoemaker hy trade, and alsri followed farm- ing. They came to what is now the town of Monroe, Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1855, and took one hundred and sixty acres of government land, on which they erected good buildings, and at the time of his death ninety acres were cleared for cultivation. There were no settlers for a number of miles, and the nearest pulling place was Xecedah. The father died December 28, 1883, aged seven- ty-six years, and the mother died March 2^, 1889, aged seventy-five years, and both were buried at Spring Creek. Mr. Ely was a de- vout Christian and a member of the Meth- odist church. He was a Republican in po- litical sentiment and much interested in party movements. He served in several township offices of trust, and was a respected citizen and gained the confidence of his as- sociates. Six children, fi\t sons and one daughter, were born to this worthy couple, as follows: Henry D., now farming in Monroe township; Oscar C, our subject; Elwood M., now farming in Monroe town- ship; Dexter \Y., residing in Chicago; Ho- mer \\'., now in Granite, Illinois; and Har- riet hi, now Mrs. C. R. Barker, of Chicago. Oscar C. Ely at the age of ten years went to work for a farmer, and after three summers entered the cotton factory at Rock- ville, Connecticut, and was thus engaged about three years. Ele came with his par- er.ts to Wisconsin at the age of sixteen 3'ears, and from that time assisted his father in the clearing of the farm. He is now in pos- session of two hundred acres, and has about one hundred acres under cultivation. He was awarded a diploma and medal by the ^\'orld"s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, for Initter made on his farm, which was a great honor from the fact that the butter scored one hundred points. He is thorough in his work, practical, and uses the most ap- proved methods, and has made a success. Mr. Ely was married December 12, 1863, to Annette B. Gardner, tlaughter of Oliver and Melissa (TullerJ Gardner, of Preston township. Eive children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ely, three of whom are living, as follows : Charlotte E., born January 8, 1867, now Mrs. G. Losey, resid- ing near Hancock, Leola township, Adams county; Alice J., born August 16, 1870, now Airs. G. H. ^Munroe, of Barnum, Adams county, and Arthur O., born March 2, 1881. The son is a sufferer from paralysis, and is an invalid. jMr. and Mrs. Ely are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist church, and take an active part in church matters. He has ex- erted his influence for the interests of his townshiiD, and has served in various local offices of trust, in every instance perform- ir.g his duties with fidelity and gaining the confidence of his fellows. He has been township clerk and justice of the peace, and is well known in his comniunit}^ In po- litical faith he is a Republican. Mr. Ely was appointed postmaster of Spring Creek in 1897. He still holds that position, while his wife is assistant post- master. RILEY SPRAGUE RICHMOND. Riley Sprague Richmond, an influential citizen and prominent business man of Ran- dolph, Columbia county, has spent over a half century of his life in the county of his adoption. He was born in the town of Og- den, Monroe county, New York, Septem- COMPEXD/CM OF BIOGRAPHY. 343 ber 6, 1826, and was a son of Joshua and Al)igail (Sprague) Richmond. The father of our subject was a native of \\'(iodstock. Connecticut, and lie repre- sented the sixth generation of his family in that state. His first ancestor on this ci.>n- tinent was John Richmond, one of the found ■ ers of Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1637. He came from Ashton Keynes, \\'iltshire, Eng- land. The Richmond family originated in Brittan}", France, and is still found in that country. \Villiam Makepeace Thackeray descended from the Richmonds of \\'iltshire, whose posterity includes many eminent men in England and Ariierica. A number of the descendants of John Richmond were in the Colonial and Revolutionary wars. The grandfather of our subject, Edward Rich- mond, was a pioneer in Dartmouth, Massa- chusetts, and later in Woodstock, Connecti- cut, and Stafford, \'ermont. He sold his farm and was paid in Continental money, which depreciated in \-alue and caused him great loss. He died in 1804. Our sub- ject's father went to ^Monroe county, New York, at the age of fourteen years, and at that time there was not a frame house in Rochester; all were of logs. He spent his life on a farm there, and died in 1868 at the age of seventy-five years. He served in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Buf- falo and the battle of Erie, and filled most of the local offices in his community. He was a successful farmerj_ and was able to give each of his children a tract of land. The mother (.)f our suliject died while he was l.)ut an infant. Her father, Ichabod Sprague, came to New York from New England, and was of English and Irish de- scent. He died at Churchville, Monroe county. New York, where he owned a farm cf seven hundred acres. Joshua Richmond was married three times. The mother of our sulijcct was the first wife, ami to this union five children were born, of whom our subject was the youngest child and only son. The second wife bore the maiden name of Nancy ;\.. Crissy, and ten chiklren were born to the second union. The third wife was uan:ed Nancy True prior to her mar- riage. Riley Sprague Richmond is the only sur- vivor of his mother's family of children. He left home in 1847, '^"^1 came to Wisconsin, and took government land in Randolph township, Columbia county, where he con- tinued his residence twenty-five years, and a; the end of that time owned 1 >nc hundred and eighty-five acres of land, although he had disposed of some. He brought it to a high state of cultivation and erected good buildings. Since the fall of 1872 he has li\-ed in the x'illase of Ixandolph, where he resides in practical retirement. He pur- chased two other farms, and later sold all his lands. He .was one of the incorporators of the Randolph Canning Company in 1895, and has since iseen president of the company, and the enterjirise has proven remarkably successful. Our subject was married June 15, 1854, to Lucy Jane 01i\er, a daughter of Zenith and Polly 01i\-er. Mrs. Richmond was born in New York, and died August, 1856, leaving one child: Eva I., now Mrs. John S. Lightner, of Randolph. Our subject was married to Jane Hughes, February 4, 1857. Mrs. Richmond was a daughter of Gliomas and Margaret ( Jones ) Hughes. Her parents were from Caernarvonshire, Wales, and came to America in 1846. and settled in I\.andolpIi to\\nship. Columbia county, where Mr. Hughes died June 30, 1879, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. Hughes died in December, 1896, aged nearly eighty- one years. Mrs. Richmond was born in Wales. Mr. and ]Mrs. Richmond are the parents of two children: Cora B., now Mrs. Dr. Harvey X. Jackson, of Milwaukee; and Ozro, who ilied in infancy. ^Ir. and 344 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mrs. Richmond have one grandson, named Riley Richmond Jackson. The Richmond family have been Universalists in religious belief for some generations, and our sub- ject inclines toward that denomination. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In early life he was a Democrat in political faith, but of recent years he is independent in poli- tics. He has held various township offices, and is always interested in educational af- fairs and public enterprises. During the Civil Avar he took a leading part in filling the quota of troops from Randolph township, and but one draft was levied in the town- ship. He was a liberal subscriber to the bounty fund, and went to Milwaukee to pay the bounty to enlisted troops from Randolph township. WILLIAM A. HAYES. William A. Hayes, a prominent railroad conductor of Baraboo, who has won suc- cess by his own perseverance and industry, was born in Mountain Ash, South Wales, December 25, 1863. His father, William Hayes, was a nati\-e of County Kerry, Ire- land, and a son of Captain William Hayes, who was commander of a vessel sailing from Cork and was lost at sea. While a young man the former went to Wales, where he married Miss Ellen Condon, a native of Mountain Ash, and a daughter of John Condon, a coal miner of that place. In that country the father of our subject en- gaged in coal mining until the early part of 1865, when he came to the United States and first located in Lancaster, Pennsylva- nia, where he was employed in oil works for a time. About 1S70 he removed to Mazo- manie, \\'isconsin, and entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee '& St. Paul Rail- road Company on a construction train. In 1873 h^ went to W^auzeka, where he was section foreman until 1897, since which time he has been a switch tender at Madison, 01; the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. His wife died April 9, 1894, at the age of fifty-three years. Our subject was only a small boy when the family came to Wisconsin, and he ob- tained a limited education in the public schools of Mazomanie and Wauzeka, which he attended only about eighteen months in all. At the age of nine years he began sup- porting himself by farm labor, and when twelve entered a stave factory at Wauzeka, Vv-here he was employed for three years. He next worked as baggageman at Woodman, Wisconsin, where he spent three years and a half, and during his leisure moments learned telegraphy. In the fall of 1884 be secured an appointment as brakeman on the Madison division of the Chicago & North- v/estern Railroad, and three years later was made conductor on the same division. For several years past he has had charge of a work train, covering all the tracks between Harvard and Winona, Milwaukee and Ga- lena. jNIr. Hayes was married, December 25, 1890, to Miss Clara A. Michaelis, a native of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and a daughter of August and Juliet (Meyer) Michaelis, of Lancaster, Wisconsin. To them have been born three children : Helen, Merl and Willie. Since 1891 Mr. Hayes has been an acti\-e and prominent member of Baraboo Divis- ion, No. 68, O. R. C, of which be is now chief conductor, and in 1897 he was a dele- gate to the biennial session of the Grand Division of the order, at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Pie is also a member of Sinnissippi Council, No. 1158, R. A., of Belvidere, Illi- nois, and is a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party, though not an aggressive par- tisan. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 345 HON. JOHN A. HENRY. Hon. John A. Henry, one of the lead- ing business men of Easton, Adams county, and the present representative from that dis- trict in the general assembly of the state, has been a resident of that region many years, and is well known as a gentleman whose business qualifications and integrity entitle him to prominence in the commercial world. He is proprietor of a general mer- chandise store in that town, and has been identified with her business interests for the past twenty years, and is also possessor of large landed interests in Adams county. Mr. Henry was born in Oswego coun- ty. New York, October 14, 1845, and was the son of Andrew and Ann (Wickware) tienry. The Wickware family were early settlers of Oswego county, and well known in that vicinity. The father of our suljject was left motherless at the age of six years. He was a cooper by trade, and moved his family from Oswego county to Racine coun- ty, Wisconsin, in 1850, where be stayed about one year, and then moved to Water- ford, and worked at his trade for a few years. He went to California overland, with his twelve-year-old son, Antle, about 1854, and engaged in mining with fair suc- cess, and remained about four years, return- ing to Water ford in 1858. He moved to Easton, Adams county, in 1863 where he purshased land and resided until his death, February 10, 1874, aged fifty-five years. The mother died May 24, 1894, aged seventy- four years, and both parents were laid to rest al White Creek. Of their five children our subject was the second in order of l)irth. John Henry was given a good educa- tion, attending school until his sixteenth year, when he enlisted for his country's cause, but was rejected on account of his parents not giving consent. He afterward enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalrv, and served until the close of the war, receiv- ing his discharge at Madison, in June, 1865. His regiment had the honor of being- the longest in the service of any volunteer regi- ment. He was engaged in hard work, chasing bushwhackers, and was disabled at Pascagoula Bay, Mississippi, by a broken leg, caused by a horse kicking him. He was confined to the hospital at New Orleans, and was afterward removed to New York, and thence to Madison, \\'isconsin. He has in his possession a nunilier of interesting relics of those troublous times, among them a wooden sword, which was presented to him as captain of the \\'aterfijrd Home Guards, a company formed for the purpose of drill work. He has two sabres, which at one time belonged to the Confederate ami)-, and are marked C. S. A. In assist- ing to organize Company C, First Wiscon- sin Infantry, under Captain Hill, our sub- ject was drummer, and is in possession of a pair of remarkably fine drum sticks, which were used at that time. His stock of gen- eral merchandise at Easton is complete in every particular/and he enjoys a liberal pat- ronage. He owns the old homestead on sections 30 and 31, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and also eighty acres of land on section 4, in Springville township. Mr. Henry was married December 6, 1868, to Alice Augusta Stowell, daughter of Lullerand Polly (Spoor) Stowell, of Spring- ville, Adams county. Six children have been born to "Mr. and Mrs. Henry, as follows: Edith, born July 26, 1869, now Mrs. F. Jones, of North Freedom, Sauk county; Etta, born December 18, 1871, now Mrs. R. Walton, of Easton; Alice, born May 25, 1877, now Mrs. A. Austin, of Jackson; Belle, born September i, 1882, residing at home; Ruth, born March 9, 1884; and Vera, born October 24, 1887. The three last named reside at home, with their parents. Mr. Flenrv is a member of the Masonic fra- 34G COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY ternit\- at Kilbuurn, and the Ennis Reecl Post, Xo. 159, G. A. R., of White Creek. Ill the latter he has served as first and sec- ond commander^ and is at present officer of the day. He has been postmaster of Easton for the past twenty years, and is justice of the peace. He has served as supervisor in ^\'hite Creek township, but has not aspired to county offices. He takes an active in- terest in tiie welfare of his community, and stands firmly for right and equity. In po- litical faith he is a Republican, and vras nominated by his party for the assembly in 1900, and elected. ED\\".\RD EATON. Wisconsin keeps pace with her sister states in the number of her industries, and chief among them stands the farming inter- ests. Delton township, Sauk county, has been largely instrurtiental in giving the state its present standing. The fine estates, and pleasant natural surroundings of the farms of that vicinity bring it into general notice, and one of the finest on the banks of the Wisconsin is that owned by the subject of this review. He has a river frontage oi o\'er one mile and the outlook is most beauti- ful. Fishing and boating are features of the vicinit}-. His farm comprises three hundred and thirty acres. A competency earned by his own labors sweetens his later years and life holds many enjoyments for him as a reward for his early efforts. Portraits of Mr. Eaton and his honored wile are shown elsewhere in this volume. I\Ir. Eaton was born in Benenden, Kent, England, December 2, 1835, and was the son of Edward and Mary (Shoebridge) Eaton. His father was a iiati\'e of Benen- den, England, and was a farmer by occupa- tion. He came to America in 1841, and purchased a farm in Madison county. New \ork, where he was successful in the grow- ing of hops. He remained there thirteen years, and gathered together a comfortable competence. He disposed of his property in 1855 and removed to Newport, Sauk county, Wisconsin, arriving January 23, 1856. He purchased lots in the town of Newport, and established a meat market in that town, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death. He was drowned in the Wis- consin river in June, 1856, and was buried at Delton, and his wife was laid to rest be- side him in 1869. Edward Eaton was the only ciiild born to Edward and ]\Iary Eaton, and came to America in company with his parents. As a youth he worked on the farm with his father, and after their arri\-al at Newport engageil for a time in the mercantile busi- ness, and later turned his attention to farm- ing. He has gained his property by faitii- ful efforts, and has become one of the sub- stantial men of Delton township. His property is daily becoming more \'aluable, owing to its location, and is an ideal spot for summer cottages. ]Many notable places are in the \'icinity of his farm, including Lone Rock Inkstand, Sugar Bi^iwl, and the Cave of the Dark Waters, all of which are in the lower dells of the Wisconsin, and the fishing on the ri\-er at that point is excellent. Mr. Eaton set out a hop yard in 1861, and con- tinued raising hops until 1884. The rais- ing of that product of the farm is too well known in this community to need comment here, but the Eaton famih- were probably the liest known and most successful hop growers in the countr\", lieing natives of the hop garden of the world, Kent, England, from whence they brought many practical and valuable ideas in regard to their culture. In August, 1884, F. S. W. Mann, now Lord Cornwallis, of Linton Park, Maidstone, England, paid a visit to the farm COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 349 of ^Ir. Eaton, being at that time interested in hop growing" in England, and was one of the largest land owners in the liop district of Kent. Our subject sold hops as high as fifty-eight cents per pound, but the price finalh' dropped to one and a fourth cents per pound and proved an unremunerative crop, and since then Mr. Eaton has engaged in general farming. Our subject was married January 15, 1857, to Celinda Mianda Chaffee, daughter of Captain Enoch and Rhoda M. (Strana- han) Chaffee, of Otsego county, New York. Mrs. Eaton's father came west in 1865, lo- cating at Newport, Wisconsin. He was a captain in the New York militia. His death occurred in ]March, 1887, and he was buried in Baraboo, in Mr. Eaton's family lot. Mrs. Eaton's mother returned east in 1880, and made her home with her eldest daugh- ter in Peterboro, Madison county. New York, until her death in 1881. Air. and Mrs. Eaton are the parents of two children : Minnie Mianda, born February 14, 1866, now the wife of Rew T. E. Foss, of Han- cock, Wisconsin, and Edward Emmon, born June 15, 1870, an agriculturist of Delton township. Mr. Eaton is a consistent mem- ber of the ^Methodist Episcopal church of Delton, antl is trustee, district steward, and treasurer of the same. He has never sought public office, preferring to serve his town- ship otherwise. He is a most prominerit member of his community, and in political faith he is a Republican. CAPT. OSCAR MIN BERING. Captain Oscar Mix Dering, a well- known citizen of Columbus, Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, is serving as justice of the peace, a position which he has filled for a number of 3-ears with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is thoroughly impartial in meting out jus- tice, his opinions lieing unl)iased by either fear or favor, and his fidelity to the trust reposed in him is above question. The Captain is a native of Pennsylva- nia, born in Sunbury, Northumberland coun- ty, December 12, 1827, and is a son of Charles and Maria M. (Giberson) Dering. His ancestors came to this country from Germany in early colijnial days and settled in the Keystone state. One of his ancestors was a Revolutionary patriot, who cast the first cannon made in America. On this ac- count a reward was offered for his head by the British government. He died at Fred- ericktown, Maryland. The Captain's fa- ther, who was a cabinet maker in Pennsyl- vania, and accjuired considerable prominence as a skilled mechanic, came to \Visconsin in 1849, and located at New Diggings, La Fay- ette county. He died, however, at Oyster Creek, Texas, November 25, 1875, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife passed away at New Diggings, W^isconsin, in 1859, at the age of fifty-four years. Her mater- nal grandfather Lewis was killed by the In- dians in Pennsylvania many years ago. At the "age of seventeen years Captain Dering left home and went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of an iron molder. In 1849 he came with his father to this state and worked at his trade in Milwaukee, Waukesha and elsewhere. He also did some prospecting for lead at New Diggings, and was there appointetl untler sheriff" and later was elected sheriff' of La Fayette county in 1856, though a Repub- lican and there being at that time a Demo- cratic majority of five hundred in the county. His election plainly indicated his personal popularity and the confidence and trust re- posed in him h\ his fellow citizens. In June, 1 86 1, he was appointed tleputy Lnited States provost marshal at Prairie du Chien Sw.» COMFEyDiUM OF BIOGRAPHY and did cv>n!uderaWe \\-\>rk in connection with the ennvlhtvfnt of tnx»i^ for the Civil war. In Febniary. 1865. he hegtm recniit- ing a cv"«npany on his owi\ acvotmt, and in March was cvMnmissiouensiu \'ohmteer In- fantry, which was lirst orvlcrevl to Beutoiu Rtrracks, St. Louis, and later did g-arrison duty at difterent points in Missouri, tintil August, 1S05. when they were sent up the Missv^uri river K"» Fort Randall. Nebraska. Later tlvey were st;«ionevl at Fort Rice, IXv kota, for a tinve. and w-ere tinally musterxxl o«t at Madison, Wisconsin, June 13, 1866. After beiiig^ hc«iorably discharged. Cap- tain Dering located at Columbus, where he eiigaged in business as a gniin dealer for some time. Sulxsequently he served as city nursluil ;-.uJ. oepv.tv United States marslial, auo. for .1 ::;-.:".lvr of \-e;u^ past lias tiUevl tjie omcx^ ot T ".St toe of the i>eace in a most crcvMtaMc avsa s;-i:isfactv^r\- manner. In 1851 Captain Dering was uniievl in nsarriage with Miss Harriet A. Logan, at Milwaukee. She was bom in Tuscarawas comity, Ohio, and died at Columbus, Wis- consin. May ^ 1868, lea\-ing two daugh- " ' "w a resident ot Milwaukee. . t M:v-t CampMl. of the same c.'.} . . l.c ^ .iptain was agtiin manrievl Sep- temWr ^. 1870, his second union being w::',-. >'.;ss S;.r.->, T. Vance, wIk^ was K^ni liC.ir L.ike C". ...•.■.-.■. ".vin. Xew York, a daugh- ter of John \aucc. One son was K">m of this marriage — Guy V.. a cvxil dealer 01 Co- lumbus, who was educated at the Delafield Military Academy, at Deb.tield. Wiscon- sir., ar.v'. was conmvander there se\-eral \-ears a::- T'>.e family are connected with th^ .hurch. and the Captain is a ch < A. Haskell Fv^st. n; Post. X- ra*^. G A- R.. - : -. xn his • tons he ~ bee:i a ; : LEMUEL HASTIXC. DOYLE. Lemuel Hasting r>oyle. the founder of Doylestown, Columbia county, was bom November 26, 1832, at Mt. Washington, tvnxni of Bath, Xew Yoiic, is one of the most intelligent citizens of the towni of Spring- vale, Columbia county, and is alike knowni for his industry, thrift and upright char- acter. He is a son of Joseph and Hannah l^Seagier) IXnle. They were natives of Xew York, and the father was bom in tlie village of Bath. Steuben county, June 4, 1805, and the motlier at Dryden, May 7, 1807. The Doyles, though bearing an Irisli name, are undoubtevlly of Dutch extraction. In X636 one of the ancestors, a great-great- grandfather, was with Rog-er Williams in the settlement of Providence, Rhode Island. Samuel Doyle, the grandfather of our sub- ject, left Prvmdence in 1757. and went to Bucks county. Pennsyl\-ania. with his par- ents, who there founded the city of Doyles- towni. Later on he enlistevl in the Penn- sylvania Rang-ers. and served throughout the Revolutionarj- war. He was present in the camp at A'alley Forge during that mem- orable winter, and snfferevl all the harvi- shijvs of Washington's men. and hali his re- ward in witsiessing tlie surrender of Lord Comw:illis, This veteran's father was kiilevi by the Indians in the early da>-s of the history- of Doylestown. Brigadier General William Doyle, who fought under General Harrison during tlie frontier wars with the Indians, and in the war with Great Britain, 181.2-1815, was a gre- ■• - - the subject of our sketch. Oi: "ather. who came to Wisconsin in . >. , was for many years the nn^nrietor of the Doyle House at •■.d rising village . s wife was of >.ieniuin liescejit. ijer pe«.»ple ha\nng come iTom tlie regions of the historic Rhine. Her ffrandfather was at one time an officer 'jilfEU'DJ'." '.■ tutera' aaa Aoe rail tuvtr tLt^ A settkd mar tise present rillag^e «>J Mr, maxtitA at Ajfcj^ost, ,, ;.,'yirn- In 1859 he went tc* Water- Steslxer. -^^ ■ .■^■^■^ t^ /:, 'i/vA, vehere he Temahttd until J^5, i^f^? t^- --* Two €bsidf&i ■-- ?v5ir8r«S$ -S L«ss- jieacsu OHX COPl.E'j ■852 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. for many years a successful farmer of Washington to\\iislii|), wherein lie still owns one hundred and twenty acres of well im- proved land. I\Ir. Copley was born near Brandon, Ad- dison county, Vermont, April lo, 18J5, and was the son of Harvey and Ruth (Emerson) Copley. His grandfather, William Copley, was of English lineage, and married a daughter of Samuel Hand, a wealthy fisher- man of Massachusetts, and removed to Lewis county. New York, wdrere he was ac- cidentally killed by a branch of a tree fall- ing- upon him in the road. He was the fa- ther of fi\-e Sons and three daughters, as follows: Idenry, Samuel, ^\'i]liam, Alexan- der, Gustavus, Polly, Charlotte and Lois. The father of our subject was born in New- York, and while a young man went to Ver- mont, wdiere he died at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a prosperous farmer and exemplary citizen. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Rochester, Vermont, and was a daughter of John Emerson, wdio was of Scotch lineage, and was supposed to have been born in Connecticut. Mrs. Copley reached the age of ninety-three years, and died near Grand Forks, North Dakota. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, w'ho reached the age of maturity, as follows : Hannah, now Mrs. E. S. Drake, of Richland Center, Wisconsin; John, our subject; George, who was mur- dered by a rujiber wlK)m he w-as trying to capture in Idaho, about 1865; Adaline, now Mrs. Samuel E. Drake, of Richland Center, Wisconsin; Lois, now Mrs. \\'illiam Shel- den, of Richland Center; Mary, now Mrs. Rufus Smith, of Pittsfield, Vermont- and Electa, now Mrs. William Capps, residing near Grand Forks, North Dakota. John Copley began to earn his own live- lihood when he attained his majority, and spent eight months in a carpet factory at Lowell, Massachusetts, after which he en- gaged in farming in \^ermont. He came to Sauk county, AA'isconsin, in the spring of 1872, and settled in \\'ashington township, where he has since resided. He owns and formerly operated one hundred and twenty acres of land, most of which is tillable. Since March, 1899, he has lived in retirement on his son's farm, near the old homestead and in the same township. The estate is v,-ell improved, and he made a success of his vocation, and is enjo}-ing a well deserved rest. Mr. Copley was married in 1852 to Lura A. Carlisle, daughter of William and Saphronia Carlisle, of Goshen, Vermont. Mrs. Copley died in 1857, leaving three chil- dren, all of w-hom died of diphtheria within one week, in 1861. Mr. Copley married Sarah Jane Parker, of Rochester, Vermont, in 1862. Mrs. Copley was born in Roches- ter, Vermont, and was a daughter of Ste- phen and Betsy (Collier) Parker. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and spent most of his life on a farm in Vermont, and was a son of Stephen Parker, who served in the Continental army. Mrs. Cop- ley's mother was born in Middlebury, Ver- mont, and w^as a daughter of Asa and Aba- gail (Adams) Collier, wdro were natives of Connecticut. Mrs. Copley has one brother, George Parker, now residing at Hubbleton, Vermont. One son and one daughter h? ve been born to Mr. and Mrs. Copley, as fol- lows : George ^^'illiam, a well-known farmer of Washington township, and Jane Lura, who married George Selden, of West Superior, ^Visconsin. She was lx)rn De- cember 5, 1865, and died April 30, 1900, leaving six children, three boys and three girls. Mr. Copley has been a prominent citizen wdierever he has chosen to make his home, and while a resident of Vermont served as supervisor and assessor of Goshen township, and has filled the same offices in Washington ti:)wnsliip, Sauk countv, since COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 353-. locating in \\'iscnnsin. He is active in his work for the \\clfare nf his coniniunity, and is a respected and iionored citizen. Fiir some time he supported the Greenhack party, but for many years past has identified him- self with the Republican party and its prin- ciples. XORMAX JOXES. Continued prominence in any sphere of life is evidence of a superidritv of mind and integrity of purpose, force of character and courage, that fit men to be leaders and teachers of their fellow men. ^\'itl^out ex- aggeration these characteristics may well be applied to him whose name introduces this review, and who is well known throughout Adams county for his integrity, high sense of justice, his industry and business acu- men. His home in Jackson township shows all the evidences of his careful pro\ision and superintendence, and is supplied with those improvements and conveniences which go to make modern farm life desirable. Norman Jones was born in Rocking- ham, Windham county, A'ermont, July 31, 1840. His parents were Asa Kingsley Jones and Mercy (StreeterJ Jones. The father was a native of Rehoboth, JMassa- chusetts. His grandfather, the great- grandfather of our subject, is supposed to have established the. family in America, he being a Welsh sea captain, and settled in Rhode Island at an early day in its history. Asa K. Jones' father, Income Jones, re- moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1799, where he carried on farming and black- smithing, and where he died when over eigh'ty years of age. His family record, which is still carefully preserved, gives the date of his birth as June 16, 1757. Income Jones married Mary Kingsley, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Kingsley. The former died April 19, 1769, in the sixty- sixth year of his age. Five sons and two daughters were born to Income and ]Mary Jones, of whom Asa Kingsley Jones, our subject's father, was the sixth child and fourth son. Asa was four years okl when the family moved to Vermont, and grew to manhood, and in 1819 located at Rock- ingham in that state.. Thence in 1S31 he came to Adams county, \\'isconsin, and set- tled in that locality, which has ever since Ijeen known as "Jonesville." He died there l)eceml)er 9, 1858, aged sixty-three \ears. He was a most exemplary citizen, and to liis activity and influence many of the fac- tors of civilization in Adams county's early history owe their existence. He helped to organize a Congregational church near Ox- ford, soon after his arrix-al in the count}', and its first meetings were held at his home. He was never an active politician, though he served as chairman of the board of Jack- son township. He was an Abolitionist in sentiment, and predicted the Civil war as an. irievitable result of the conditions existing in this nation, but did not li\e to see the realization of his prophecy and of his faith in the eventual emancipation of the slaves. His wife, Mrs. Mercy Jones, was born in February, j8oo, in Westmoreland. Xew Flampshire, and died Alarch 31, 1888. Her father, Jeremiah Streeter, died in X'ew \'ork, and her mother. C}"nthia (Snow) Streeter, died, in Brattleboro, Vermont, at the age of ninet}'-t\vo years. To ]Mr. and Mrs. Asa Kingsley Jones were born fi\e sons and fi\"e daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy. Tiie names of the other children are as follows: C_\-nthia, afterward Mrs. L. B. Osgood, deceased. Her home was in Garden City, ^Minnesota. Chester, of Kilbourn, Wisconsin. Clement, a farmer of Springville township. Love, now Mrs. A. AI. Kendall, Garden City, Minnesota. Marv, now Mrs. Henr\- |. 854 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Hubbard. Fanny, now Mrs. J. R. Vro- man. Nelson, and Norman, the subject of this review. The four last named are all residents of Adams county. Norman Jones lived with his parents until after his father's death, the mother continuing to live with our subject for ten years. She then resided with her son. Nel- son, and afterwards made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Hubbard, in whose home she died. At the age of eighteen years he took charge of the homestead farm, which consisted of three hundred and fifty acres, in company with his brother, Nelson. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres of the original home farm, and in all owns a total of three hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred and twenty-five acres of which is in a state of cultivation, and the balance is timber and pasture. In 1894 he erected one of the largest and most com- modious residences in Adams county, and liis farm is fitted with a fine set of buildings, including barns and sheds for his stock and for the preservation of his crops. He car- ries on grain and stock raising, and has made a marked success of both. Norman Jones was married May 12, 1859, to Matilda Elizabeth Rogers, daugh- ter of LaFayette and Hannah Maria (Frank) Rogers. Mrs. Jones was born in Kirtland, Ohio. Her father was a native of Vermont, and when a young man re- moved to Lake county, Ohio, and after- wards came to Wisconsin, and was em- ployed for a time in the mills at Oxford. A few years later he located on a farm near Waterloo, Wisconsin. His death occurred at Portland, Wisconsin, December 28, 1881, when he was sixty-two years of age. Mrs. Jones' mother was i. native of Chautauqua county. New York. She died at the resi- dence of her daughter, Mrs. Norman Jones, in Adams county, Wisconsin, January 27, 1899, in the eighty-first year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Norman Jones the fol- lowing children have been born : Ella Ma- tilda, deceased, was born July i, 1861. She became the wife of Dr. Adelbert Edwards, and her death occurred at Kingston, Wis- consin, March 17, 1886. Asa Norman, a physician of Hillsboro, Wisconsin, who married Margaret J\I. Worden. William LaFayette married Frances L. Phillips and resides on the home farm. Franklin Jo- seph, a physician of North Freedom, Wis- consin, married Edith Henry; and Nellie Love, now the wife of Dr. Adelbert Ed- wards, a prominent physician of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Jones and family are connected with the Jonesville Congregational church, which the members of this influential family helped to organize, and of which Mr. Jones is a dea- con. Li politics he has generally supported the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is a Prohibitionist in senti- ment. He has served several terms as town treasurer, and his son, William L., now holds that office. WILLL\M ADELBERT PEASE, M. D. In the medical profession there is no more able representative in Columbia county than the gentleman above named, who has built up an extensive practice in the town of Otsego and surrounding country. He has resided there since his early boyhood, and has ever been found a conscientious and honorable gentleman, working zealously for the better interests of his community. Our subject was born in the town of Wilson, Niagara county. New York, May 28, 1846, and is a son of William C. and Caroline R. (McNitt) Pease, who were among the pioneer settlers of Columbia COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 355 county. The father was boni in Massachu- setts, and went to New York in early Hfe. He came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 184S, and entered claim to government land in the town of Columbus. He spent the latter years of his life in the village of Otsego and died there about 1894, at the age of eighty-three years. He was one of the chief contributors toward the building of the Gravel Methodist church in the town of Otsego, and was always a consistent and influential member. The grandfather of our subject. Captain John Brazilla Pease, was of French descent. He was a sea cap- tain, sailing from New York, and made several whaling voyages. Our subject's mother was born in Niagara county, New- York, and died about two years after her husband's death, aged eighty-five years. She was a daughter of John ]\IcNitt, a captain in the United States army in the war of 1 81 2, who participated in the cam- paign about Fort Niagara. He was of Scotch lineage. Dr. Pease came to Columbia county when a boy and after completing the course in the public schools continued on the farm until about 1876, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. Robert W. Earll, of Columbus. He attended Rush Medical College in 1880, and two years later began the practice of his profession in the village of Otsego. He has since conducted his practice there and has met with noteworthy success. Our subject was married in 1867 to Alice Plaight, daughter of Jonathan and Phoebe Jane (Pulver) Haight. Her father came to Hampden township from Niagara county. New York, in 1846, and spent the remainder of his life here. He died at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife died here many years ago. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pease : Dora, now Mrs. Gabriel Loven, of Rio; Mabel, residing at home;MyrtIe, a student at Trinity Hospital Training School for Nurses in Milwaukee; Willard, a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Mil- v/aukee. Each of the children have fol- lowed teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Pease have one grandson, named Leo Loven. Our subject is a member of Rio Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also the Chapter at Columbus, and also the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica at Fall River. He has been health offi- cer for the township, for some years past, and is widely known for his skillful and thorough practice of his profession. Po- litically he is a Republican and is firm in his convictions, and has been frequently chosen as delegate to conventions of his party, but has never sought or accepted public office. SANFORD ANDREW COLLINS. Sanford Andrew Collins, one of the active and energetic young business men of the city of Reedsburg, was born at Alex- andria Bay, New York, March 18, i860. While still a lad of only seven years his parents brought him to Wisconsin and lo- cated on a farm in Sauk county. Their names were Sanford and Caroline M. (Sim- mons) Collins, and had been reared to an agricultural life, which they easily followed m their new home. They settled on a farm near Ironton, where the husband and father died November 24, 1874, at the untimely age of thirty-four. He was also born at Alexan- dria Bay, New York, where he grew to man- hood. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church and a friend of education. Dur- ing the Civil war he organized three different companies of soldiers. But he was de- barred from active service on account of physical disabilities. He was a prominent Mason, and at one time was master of the S56 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. home lotlg-e. His father, Josepli Collins, v,as a native of Ireland, Init came to this country when a boy. He was a linen manu- facturer in Massachusetts, Init died a farmer in Xew York. ]\[rs. Caroline }^l. Collins is still living- in Alihvaukee at the age of fifty-eig-ht. Her birthulace was in Jefferson county. New York, and her parents, An- drew anrl Lucinda Simmons, were from Pennsyhania. They were of German ori- gin and her father was a maker of potash f(jr man}- years. ^Vmong her ancestors v/ere se\-eral who took part in the Revolu- tionary war. Sanford A. Collins lived on the farm un- til he had become quite a stout and sturdy young man of sixteen. At that time he left home and went to Minneajjolis to learn, the marble trade. He finished his ap- prenticeship at Baraboo, where he worked se\-eral years. He had charge of a store during these }-ears for a short time at Tracy, Minnesota, and had short engagements at other western points. Nothing pleased liim so well, however, as the marble busi- ness and ^^'isconsin for a h(ime. He bought a shop at Baraboo, with a branch at Reeds- burg, in 1879, and for five years operated the two plants. In 1S84 he sold out the yard and offices at Baraboo, and removed to Reedsburg to make it his home. Here lie has built up an extensive business, and he commands a \olunie of trade not sur- passed by any house in \\'isc(.)nsin, outside of Milwaukee. He ships monuments to many dift'erent states ; at the present moment his business is vcrv promising. I\rr. Collins and Miss Alice J. Tha)'er were united in marriage in March, 1881. She is a daughter of George W. and Mary E. (Burton) Thayer, of Baraboo, and is a lady of much character and many attractive qualities. Mr. Thayer was born in Deer- field, Massachusetts, and is a lineal descend- ant of Go\-ernor Bradley of colonial fame. Mrs. Collins has in her jjossession several interesting relics of the Mayflower. She is a lady of unusual literary gifts, and is a welcome poetical contributor to several oi the leading periodicals of the dav. She is a prominent figure in social gatherings, and frequently preserves their most enjov- able features in striking \-erse. She is the mother of two charming children. Theodore and Carrie, and presides o\er a pleasant and attracti\e home. Mr. Collins is a strong Repul)lican, fol- lowing the principles and examples of Ijoth liis father and grandfather. He takes an intelligent and lively interest in local aft'airs, and in the spring of 1S99 was elected alderman from the first ward of his city. The same year he was elected president of the Reedsburs: Fair. ROBERT AHTCHELL, M. D., Dece.vsed. Robert ]\IitchclI, 3il. D., deceased, was a skilled physician and surgeon of Portage, whose knowledge of the science of medicine was broad and comprehensive, and whose ability in applying its principles to the needs of suft'ering humanity gained for him an en- viable prestige in professional circles. For almost forty years he w^as one of the lead- ing medical practitioners of Portage and vicinity. The Doctor was born in ^loravia. Ca}-uga county. New "^'ork. June 22, 1826, a son of Robert and Mary (Freeman) Mitchell, na- tives of Dutchess county, New York. The first of the family to come to the new world was Robert Mitchell, a younger son of Sir Humphrey and Hester (Smith) Mitchell, of Old Windsor, Berkshire', England. In 1686 he settled on Long Island, where his posterity was well known for several genera- tions. His grandson, Dr. Samuel Latham ROBERT MITCHELL, M. D. (Deceased.) COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 859 Mitchell, an eminent physician and professor of medicine in Columbia College, New York, was educated at Edinburgh, Scotland, ami served as United States senator. Uriah Mitchell, one of the descendants of the American progenitor, was sheritT of Queens county, New York, in 1790. He was mar- ried May 16, 1770, to Freelove Smith, who ■was probably his second wife, and to them were born seven children. Their grandson. Morris M. Mitchell, was a resident of Lodi. \M.sconsin, for a number of years, and died there in 1865, at the age of forty. Robert Mitchell, the youngest child ot Uriah and Freelove (Smith) Mitchell, and father of our subject, was born in 1784, and died September 26, 1868. When a young man he located on a farm in Cayuga county. New York, and about 1859 became a resident of Portage, Wisconsin, where lie spent the remainder of his life. His wife died here in December, 1861, at the age nf sixty-five years. In their family were foiu^ children, namely ; Edward, who came ti ) Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1S60, and located on a farm in the town of Marcellon until called from this life in 1864, at the age of forty-five years; Jane G., who mar- ried Reuben Stoyell and came to Portage, where theij deaths occurred in the early '60s ; Robert, our subject; and Frances, who first married John Wilson, and after his death wedded James P. Rogers. Dr. Mitchell, of this review, completed his literary education at Geneva (n(nv Hobart) College, Geneva, New York, where he was graduated in 1845, and then entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, from which he received a dii)lonia in the .spring of 1850. After spending the following winter near Des Moines, Iowa, iie startetl to California by the overland route with ox teams and was four months in cross- ing the plains. He engaged in mining on the Yuba. and Feather rivers, and after three years spent in the Golden State returnetl east by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In 1857 Dr. Mitchell came to Portage and turned his attention to the practice of his chosen profession. In .\ugust, 1S61, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Tenth Wisconsin \^olunteer Infantr}'. with which he spent two years in the field, and was then appointed surgeon of the Twenty- seventh Regiment, and in that capacity served until the close of the war. Witli the former regiment he was in Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama, and with Hie latter spent seventeen months m Ar- kansas, and later was at Mobile, Alabama, and in Texas, most of his time being devoted to professional work, .\fter the war he re- sumed practice in F'ortage, but in 1S69 re- mo\ed ti) a farm in Marquette county, where in connection \\\i\\ agricultural pursuits iie engaged in practice to some extent until De- cember, 1893, when he returned to Portage. For a number of years he was a member of the board of examining surgeons, holding that position through several changes in the national administration. He represented Marquette county in the general assembly in 1875; was identified with the Republican party since its organization ; and was a char- ter member of J. W. Kershaw Post, G. A. R., at Briggsville. His death occurred June 21, I S99. On the 25th of April, 1867, Dr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Miss Abby O. Briggs, a native of Vermont, and a daugii- ter of A. E. Briggs, the founder of Briggs- ville, Wisconsin. The lady was a native of Addison county, Vermont, born in 1829. She was educated at Shoreham Academy and at Brandon Seminary, in the state of her birth, and was graduated from the latter in 1849. In 1851 this accomplished and tal- ented lady came westward, and engaged in teaching in the rising village, now city, of Portage in 1853. This was what was then 360 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. known as the Classical Institute. She, at a later date, taught' some eight years in the Portage High School, and was one of the most prominent of the early instructors of that part of the state. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell were parents of one son, Robert Ellis Mitchell, who was born in Portage, March 24, 1869, and is now a prominent attorney of that place. In 1889 he was con- firmed in St. George's Episcopal church. New York city, where his great-grand- father was baptized October 5, 1745. He attended the public schools of Marcjuette county, Wisconsin, and in 1889 entered Packard's Business College, New York city, where he spent five months. After his re- turn to this state he entered the law office of J. H. Rogers, of Portage, in the fall of 1890, and later was a student for two years in the College of Law connected with the Univer- sity of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated in 1893. Since the fall of that year he has successfully engaged in practice at Portage and enjoys a liberal patronage. The family hold membership in the Episco- pal church and socially occupy an enviable position in the best circles of Portage. A portrait of Dr. Mitchell, who was one of the pioneer physicians of Columbia county, will be found by his many friends and former patients on another page of this volume. JACOB RANSOM VROMAN. Jacob Ransom Vroman, for over sixty years a resident of Wisconsin, is thorough- ly familiar with the development of that region, and has assisted in raising the stand- ard of excellence in all public matters with- in the State, and as an agriculturist of enter- prise and experience has made of the wild lands of that vicinity a thriving, productive district. Pie is now owner of a fine estate in Jackson township, Adams county, and his farm bears evidence of careful manage- ment and watchfulness over the details of his work. Mr. Vroman was born in Sharon, Scho- harie county. New York, July 14, 1831, the son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Fritcher) Vroman, both natives of Sharon, New York. The grandfather of our subject, Josiah Vroman, Sr., was a man of great physical strength, and was six feet, six inches in height. He followed the occupation of a farmer, and his ancestors were from Hol- land, .and settled in America at an early day. Several members of the family were active in Revolutionary times, and served in the war, and are prominent in the annals of Schoharie county. The father of our subject came to Wisconsin about 1838, and settled in Darien, Walworth county, where he was a pioneer and remained ten years, engaged in farming. He came to Adams county in the spring of 1850, and took a s(juatter's claim in Jackson township, where he lived some years. His death occurred in Oxford, Wisconsin. He was a consistent member of the Congregational church, and vras prominent in public affairs, and served in numerous township offices. In early life he was a AVhig, but afterward a Republican. Our subject's maternal grandfather, David Pritcher, was one of two men who distin- guished themselves during the Re\-olution- ary war by going to the Indian camp near Sharon, New York, and decoying the sav- ages into an ambush of American soldiers. They were pursued 'by the Indians about two miles, and his companion was forced to crawl into a hollow log to escape death at their hands, but Mr. Fritcher continued the flight until they were trapped. Our subject's mother passed away two years after the death of her husband, aged sixty-four years. She was the mother of the following chil- dren : Nancy, who married John Mereness, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 361 and who died in 1850, at Darien; Peter N., deceased; Josiah A., deceased; John W., an agriculturist of Jackson township, a sketch of v.hose life appears elsewhere in this volume; Jacob R. ; David died at the age of seven- teen years; and Mary died at the age of eleven years. Jacob R. Vroman went to Walworth county with his parents, and well remembers much of the early history of that county. The journey to their new home was made by team to Buffalo, New York, and thence shipped to Detroit, and drove by team from there to Wisconsin. Near Buffalo he saw a railroad for the first time. He made a visit to Adams county in 1849, with his fa- ther and brother, John, and the following spring the family moved thither with teams. Deer were plentiful and soon fell prey to their guns. Our subject has killed deer every season until i8g8, and has probably killed as many as any other hunter in the county. On one expedition which lasted two months, in company with two men, ninety-six deer were killed, all within Wis- consin. On the same trip they also killed three elk, the only ones ever shot in the state, as far as known. He has also killed bears near his home and during the early days much other game. He entered claim to his present farm in 1850, and purchased the land at the U. S. Land Office at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, after the survey had been made about four years later. He and his brothers run a line from the Fox River, in Marcj[uette county, in order to approximate- ly locate the section lines, before making claims. Our subject now owns one hundred and eighty acres, well improved, and a good set of farm buildings. He has invested in other wild lands from time to time and once owned over seven hundred acres. Mr. Vroman was married November 2, 1856, to Fannie Jones, daughter of Asa Kingsley and Mercy (Streeter) Jones. Mrs. Vroman was born in Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, and came to Adams county with her parents in 185 1. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vroman, as follows : Minnie J., now Mrs. Frank McConick, of Friendship; Clara Maria, now Mrs. A. E. Stafford, residing on. the homestead farm; and Clifford J., who died at the age of two and half years. Mr. Vroman took an active part in the organization of the townships of Jackson, New Haven, Dell Prairie and Springville, which were organized into one township with the first election at Dell Prairie Cor- ners, and Mr. Vroman was chosen the first township clerk. About two years later the township was divided into four townships and he was clerk of Jackson township, with Asa Iv. Jones, as chairman. Our subject has filled nearly every office in the town- ship and for a time was a member of the board of county poor commissioners. He has always been a Republican and his first presidential vote was cast for General Scott in 1852. He remembers the adoption of the state constitution in Wisconsin, and has always shown marked interest in pub- lic affairs. He donated the ground for the site, and considerable money for the erec- tion of the Presbyterian church near his home. He has been a member of Oxford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., since in 1864, and for many years was secretary of the local lodge. He is also connected with the chap- ter of that order at Portage. FRANCIS JOSEPH BOLTING. Francis Joseph Bolting, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Portage, Wisconsin, where for the past eight years he has served as cashier of the station of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R;.':^ 362 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. road, enjovs the distinction of being a na- tive of that city. He was born Decem1)er 14, 1857, a son of Henry and Fredericka (Kaiser) Bohing, both natives of Germany, the former born hi Borken, Westphaha, Prussia, the latter in Innshng, Baden. Dur- ing his boyhiiod tlie father lost his parents and at the age of fourteen years he came to the United States. After a few years spent in New York City, he came to Port- age, Wisconsin, in 1850, and opened a gro- cer}' store here, which he carried on until his death. In 1849 '^^ went to California by way of Cape Horn and conducted a gro- cery store in San Francisco for a short time, but returned to the states the following- year. He was reared in the Catholic faith and was a member of the Masonic lodge of Portage for some years. He was one of the prominent representatives of the Demo- cratic party in his couimunity, was hon- ored with a number of local offices of trust and responsibility, including those of city treasurer and alderman of Portage. It was in that city that he was married, Feb- ruary 20, 1855, to Miss Fredericka Kaiser, wh(.) is still hving at the age of sixty-one years, but he died April 7, 1877. at the age of forty-seven. Her father, Joseph Kaiser, emigrated to America in 1848, and after living for five years upon a farm in Milwau- kee, came to Columbia county, settling in Lewiston township. His last years were spent in retirement from active labors at I'ortage, where he was accidentally killed on the railroad December 14, 1883. At that time he was eighty-six years of age, but w^as still hale and hearty. His wife had died Feliruary ID, 1872, when nearly sixty years old. Of the seven chiltlren born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolting, two died in infancy. The others are : Mary, now the wife of Will- iam Henry Little, of Portage; Francis J., our subject ; Henry George, a grocer of I'ortage ; Elizabeth, wife of \V. F. Turner, of the same city: and Carl, who was ac- cidentally killed while in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, November 19, 1887, at the age of twenty - two years. Francis J. Bolting was educated in the public schools of Portage, and on leaving home at the age of twenty-one years went to New York City, where he spent two years. In 1882 he entered the service of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railri.iad Com- pany, with which he has been connected, serving as cashier of the station at Port- age since 1891. He is one of the most trusted employes of the company and has the confidence and high regard of all who know him. He is public spirited and pro- gressive, and a liberal supporter of all en- terprises for the public good. In 1883 he wedded Miss Marie Weber, also a native of Portage and a daughter of Peter and Magdalene Weber, now of Lyndon, Wis- ctmsin. ED\VARD GEORGE STOLTE. Edward George Stolte, manager of the Hotel Stolte at Reedsburg, was born in that place, December i, 1867. He is a son of \Villiam Stolte, of whom extended notice will be found upon another page of this volume. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and at the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad as baggage man at Reedsburg station. After continuing in that capacity for three or four years he assumed charge of the Central House, the leading hotel of the town, which his father had owned for several years previous to that time. He conducted this house until it burned down in 1896, and has been manager of the Hotel Stolte since it was opened for business, January, 1897. The house is commodious. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 363 ■conveniently arranged and fitted up with every modern convenience. In its manage- n-.ent he is ably assisted by his two sisters, Dora and Nana, who give their personal at- tention to the cuisine and domestic arrange- ments, these departments being models of neatness and order. Mr. Stolte is a wide- awake and accommodating landlord and it is due to the combined efforts of the brot'.ier and sisters that the house enjoys the repu- tation of one of the most thoroughly ecjuipped and best managed hotels to be found in the state of Wisconsin. In conjunction with his brother, \\'ill- iani .v. Stolte, in September, 1898, he jiur- chased the business of the Reedsburg Tele- phone Company and has since been in active charge of that enterprise. He has placed a, new exchange in the hotel, affording a ready means of communication with all parts of the city and with many neighbor- ing towns to guests of the house, as well as to the citizens of Reedsburg. Mr. Stolte is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, holding official po- sitions in the local lodge, chapter, council and commandery. He is also identified with the order of the Eastern Star and with the Knights of Pythias. He has always taken an intelligent in- terest in public affairs. Since 1891 he has served as city constable. At that date he was also appointed deputy sheriff for Sauk county and served two years in that ca- pacity, being the youngest man who ever filled that position. He enjoys the good willof the traveling public in a nnteworthy degree and few men of his age in Sauk county are held in as high regard by their fellow citizens. Mr. Stolte was married Se])teml_ier 20, 1900, to Miss Florence Pegler French, daugliter of W. FI. and Sarah (Morton) French, prominent residents of Reedsburg, ^\'isconsin. WILLIAM STOLTE. William Stolte, one of the most success- ful business men of Reedsburg, was born at Hohenbunstorf, province of Hanover, Germany, March 2, 1833. He is the only survivor of the family of George and Dora (Evers) Stolte. which included six sons and two daughters, all the others having died in childhood. The Stolte family is one of two which existed in the vicinity of Flohen- bunstorf as early as the year 1300. A con- secutive genealogical record has been pre- served since 1680, earlier records having been destroyed during the Thirty-Years War in Germany. Members of the family have been extensive farmers for several centuries, but owing to the custom of en- tailing property, which existed in Gern.iany at that time, George Stolte inherited l)ut little of his father's estate. Fie came to the FTnited States in 1862 and died at Reeds- burg at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife passed away at the age of seventy-one years. William Stolte learned the tailor trade in his native land antl with a view to better- ing his fortunes, came, in i860, to this coun- try. He worked at his trade two years in Ivladison, Wisconsin, after which he pur- chased a small stock of cloths and opened a merchant tailoring business at Kilbourn City, in the same state. At the end of three years of successful business there, he locat- ed, in the fall of 1865, at Reedsburg and, in company with Deidrich Schweke, opened a general store. After the death of his part- ner, which occurred aliout four years later, he continued the business alone, doing a profitable trade until 1883, when he sold out the stock and took a trip to Europe, spending several months in rest and recrea- tion. In the meantime (1865) he bought the Alba Ibiuse, a three-story frame hotel building, which he enlarged and improved. 364 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. fitting it up as a first-class hostlery and changing the name tn the Central House. Besides the hotel this building contained a store and, for some time, a cigar factory. Mr. Stolte has never been the active propri- etor of the hotel, but rented it until 1891. when his son, Edward G. Stolte, took charge. The Central House was destroyed by fire April 12, 1896, whereupon Mr. Stolte at once replaced it with the ]M"esent "Hotel Stolte." It is a substantial brick edifice, the most conspicuous building in the city of Reedsburg. From time to time he has made a number of other improvements in the town, including his private residence on the south side, which was erected in 1888. He also owns a valuable farm lying mostly within the city limits and is considered one of the most prosperous citizens of Sauk county. December 21, 1862, Mr. Stolte was mar- ried to Dora Meyer, a native of the same locality as her husband. She is a daughter of Geo'rge and Dorothea (Reitzmann) Meyer, who became residents of Sauk coun- ty, settling near Loganville, where Mr. Meyer lived to the age of nearly ninety years and his wife to the age of seventy- six years. ]\Ir. INIeyer was born at Him- bergen, 1^-ovince of Hanover, and spent several years in the Prussian army. He ac- companied Napoleon's expedition to Mos- cow and was captured by the Russians, re- maining a prisoner in that country for two cr three years. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stolte, one died in infancy. The survivors are: Dora, Nana, Louise (Mrs. E. H. Marriott, of Baraboo), Lida, Lena, Freda, William, Edward G. and George. .\11 ha\e enjo-^'ed good educa- tional advantages and each of the sons is occupying a responsible position in business. Mr. Stolte has always been a liberal con- tributor to worthy public enterprises. Soon after he located in Reedsburg lie and his partner, Mr. Schweke, erected, at their own expense, the house of worship known as St. Peter's Lutheran church. When this con- gregation was divided in 1871, he became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes church, with which he and his family are still identified. He also helped to organize the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at this place, being a memlier of Reedsburg Lodge, No. 135, and of Ger- mania Encampment, No. 17. Since be- coming a citizen of the United States he has been a consistent Democrat. He was for a number of years a member of the ^'illage board of supervisors, and has served the city as trustee and treasurer. In 1888 he v.-as the candidate of his party for county treasurer. OTTO KRISCH, Deceased. Otto Krisch, deceased, was for over forty years prominently identified with the business interests of Portage and was also a leader in musical and social circles. He was born in Prague, Austria, October 4, 1 83 1, a son of Carl and Anna Krisch, who spent their entire lives at that place. His literary education was acquired in a gym- nasium in his native city, and he also ob- tained a thorough knowledge of both instru- mental and vocal music, studying under Robert Vogel, the famous composer. He be- came skilled in both lines and for some time sang in operas in dift'erent German cities. Coming to the new world, Mr. Krisch located in Portage, Wisconsin, in 1854, and three years later established a grocery store at that place, which he successfully con- ducted until his death, on the 4th of July, 1897. He was a charter member of the old Hook & Ladder Company of that city, and for two years was a member of the Portage Volunteer Fire Deijartment. He COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 365 was always a reliable and trustworthy busi- ness man and took an active part in the pro- motion of many public enterprises. So- cially he was a member of Silver Lake Lodge, A. O. U. W., and politically was a Democrat, but at local elections he usually voted independent of party, endeavoring to support the men best qualified for the office. For several years he served as city treas- urer with credit to himself and to the en- tire satisfaction of all concernetl, and was ever found true to every trust repnsed in him, whether in public or private life. He remained an ardent lover of music to the last and was a prime mover in organizing the Portage Liederkranz, of which he was a director for many years. Li the spring of 1897 he commenced the erection of an elegant brick residence, but died before its completion. It is one of the finest homes in the city and is now occupied by his fam- ily. He also owned a good two-story brick block on Cook street, where he carried on business. On the 27th of January, 1858, Mr. Krisch married Wiss Alagdalene Schleis- man, a native of Kline-Welsheim, Llesse- Uarmstadt, Germany, who came to the United States in 1854 with her parents, Adam and Margaret Schleisman. Her fa- ther died in Portage, in January, 1879, aged seventy-five years, her mother in August, 18S2, aged seventy-two. The children born to ]\lr. and Mrs. Krisch were Alvina, v.ho died in infancy; Alois, mentioned be- low ; Anna, now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; Eda and Otto. Alois Krisch was born in Portage, June 15, i860, alid attended the high .school of that city. At the age of sixteen he en- tered his father's store as a clerk and has since been connected with the business, of wliicli he took charge after his father's death, and which lie now owns and success- fully conducts. He is a nran of good i)usi- ness ability and sound judgment, and, like his father, holds a high place in the regard of his fellow citizens. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Portage Leiderkranz, and was a member of the Portage TurnvereinVorwarts until it disbanded. At the age of seventeen he joined the Portage Volunteer Fire De- partment and was connected with that or- ganization for ten years. ROBERT MONROE RAMSEY. Robert Monroe Ramsey, deceased, for many years a prominent citizen of New Haven township, Adams county, where he was a successful agriculturist, was born in Berlin township, Portage county, Ohio, March 2, 1829. He was the son of James and Sally (Best) Ramsey, both of whom were natives of Ohio, and came to Adams county in 1850, and settled in New Haven township, where they lived to be aged people. Our subject came to Wisconsin in 185 1 and resided with his parents in Adams coun- ty until their deaths. He operated a thresh- ing machine for many years, and became the owner of four hundred acres of land and one of the best farms in the county. He raised considerable stock and also spent several winters in the pineries with his teams. He was industrious, enterprising and systematic, and in every undertaking met with the best results. He took an act- ive interest in the affairs of his county and township and, although not an aspirant for office, he exerted a marked influence among his neighbors and associates. Mr. Ramsey was married April 6, 1851, to Rebecca Fislicr, daughter of George and Esther ( Simonds) l^i.sher. Mrs. Ramsey was l)i)rn in I'alniyra, Portage county, Ohio, 366 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. and her lather was a farmer, \vho passed the greater part of his life in that state. Her parents were natives of Mifflin, Penn- sylvania, and nio\-ed to Ohio while young. Mrs. Ramsey's grandfather, Zachariah Fisher, was one of the pioneer settlers of Portage county, where a numher of his de- scendants still reside and those and others at a distance hold annual reunions of the family. Five children were horn to Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, as follows : Wallace James; iNIar}-, who married Mr. T. Fogle, and A\liose death occurred at the age of twttity-one years; Clinton C. ; George Mon- roe; and Sherwood, who died at the age of two and a half years. The surviving chil- llren all reside near the old homestead. ]\Ir. Ramsey died near Big Springs, Adams county, September 20, 1895. He had been in ill health for over four years and was stricken with paralysis about four months prior to his death, and remained helpless until he passed away. He was a great sufferer, and his friends anxiously watched oxtv him and used every means to afford relief, but without any beneficial re- sults. He was a kind neighbor, faithful friend and public-spirited citizen, and won the esteem of a large circle of acquaint- ances. JOHN ROONEY. John Rooncy, a worthy veteran of the Civil war and an honored and highly re- spected citizen of Baraboo, Wisconsin, has been the architect of his own fortunes, hav- ing made his own way in the world from an early age, and although now broken down in health he still displays much energy and a devotion to the principles which have been the means of bringing to him success. Por- traits of Mr. Rooney and his esteemed wife arc appropriately shown on another page of this volume. Mr. Rooney was born in County Fer- managh, Ireland, August 15, 1844, a son d James and Ann (McManus) Rooney. His paternal grandfather, Owen Rooney, as well as the grandmother, who was a Murray, were life-long residents of County I*\'r- managh, where the former died at the age of eig'hty years. His ancestors were among the Catholics who clung to their homes dur- ing the oppression to which they were sub- jected in Cromwell's time. Our subject's maternal grandparents, Bernard and Mary (Boyle) McManus, were natives of County Ca\-an and Fermanagh, respecti\ely, and were heirs of a large estate left b\" the lady's father, James Boyle, in that county. They emigrated to the United States, and j\Ir. McManus became foreman on railroad con- struction in Pennsylvania. After his death his wife came to Sauk coimty, \Visconsin, where she died at -the age of eighty-seven years. In the Boyle family were a number of prominent priests,, mcluding Rev. Francis Edward Boyle, of Washington, D. C, who was a chaplain in the Union army during the Civil war. James R. Rooney, the father of our suljject, was a native of County Fer- managh, and was a well educated man for his day. He made his home on a farm near Rossleigh, where he followed the stone mason's trade until his emigration to Amer- ica in 1847. He first located in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and while there filled a large contract for wood fuel for the rail- road which passed his home. There he died August 15, 1 85 1. His wife, who was born in County Cavan, Ireland, April 2y, 18 16, died in Sauk county, Wisconsin, December 28, 1885. Of their seven children, one died in infancy and Patrick was accidentally killed vvhile riding a liors.e in a race at Sugar Creek, Walworth county, Wisconsin. The others are Mary, wife of Thomas McGuan, of Westfield, Sauk county; John, our sub- ject; Margaret, wife of Nathan Bliven, - Calkins, daughter of James and YiM-y A. (Briggs) Calkins. Mrs. Jones 372 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. was born in Pennsylvania, and moved with ber parents to Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1858. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and died in MinneapoUs, Minnesota, and her mother is still living. Mrs. Jones died July 18, 1895, aged fifty-four years. Three children were born to Mr. and Airs. Jones, as follows : Frank, a farmer of Jackson township ; Alary, w'ho married H. L. Mason, and who died in Sejtemher, 1891, aged twenty-nine years; H.ittie, now Mrs. Hat- tie W'ohlfort, of Jackson township. Mr. Jones has ten grandchildren. Our subject is a Republican in political sentiment, and takes an interest in public matters, although he never accepted the re- sponsibility of public office. He has pur- sued the even tenor of his way, gaining the respect of his associates, and is well known in Adams count}', where he has resided for nearly half a .century. He has witnessed the development of that region, and has lent a helping hand toward a high state of civili- zation. JOHN BYRON PROUTY. Jolm Byron Prouty. a representative of one of the pioneer families of Sauk county, Wisconsin, is an inlluential citizen and suc- cessful farmer of Washington township, where he makes his home on section 29. He was born in Washington township, Sauk county, Wisconsin, February 9, 1856, and was a son of Re\-. Andrew and Delilah (Truax) Prouty. The grandparents of our suljject bore the names of Barnabas a;id Rebecca ( Trum- bo) Prouty. The grandfather was a native of Ohio and was of New England ances- try, while the grandmother was of German descent. Barnabas Prcnity can:e to Sauk county in 1853, where he still lives at tlie age of ninety years. He enjoys good health and mental acti\-ity. Eight sons were born to that worthy cmiple, as follows: Andrew; John, a prominent citizen of O'Neill, Ne- braska ; Barnabas, of Sauk county ; Joshua, of Sauk county; Stephen, deceased: Enoch, formerly a Baptist minister, and the in- ventor of the famous Prouty power print- ing press, and other valuafile in\-entions, now in luisiness in Chicago; Jeremiah, of Sauk count_v; Hiram, also residing in Sauk coun- ty. The oldest son, Andrew Proutv, was born in Morrill county, Ohio, and came to Wisconsin with his father, and has since re- sided in Washington township. He re- cei\-ed a liberal education in Ohio, and taught school several years after locating in Wisconsin, and a few years afterward was ordained a minister of the Baptist church. For some years he filled regular pastorates, and spent about ten years in the active min- istry, and still holds occasional services. He has been a member of the board of super- visors, and works for the interests of his community. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio. John Byron Prouty attended the public schools of Sauk county, and at the age of twenty-one began earning his li\-elihood as a farm lal)orer. His present fine farm com- prises one hundred and eighty acres, and is near Sandusky, and he has made his home on that place since 1S86. He devotes his attention to live stock raising and dairying. The farm is the old Lunn homestead. Mr. Prouty was married in 1886 to Sa- rah Ann Lmm, dau.o'hter of Joseph and Ann (Taylor) Lunn, prominent pioneers of Washington township. They went tliere from Milwaukee in 1857, settling near the \'illage of Sandusky. Mrs. Prouty's father was one of the most successful farmers of Sauk county. He was born in Yorkshire, England, and died in 1882, aged sixty-six years. Airs. Prouty's mother was born, near Afanchester, England, and came to the COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 378 United States in 1830. She died in 1882. aged nearly sixty-two years. .Mrs. Prouty was one of a family of ten children, among whom was James T. Lunn, who was connty superintendent of scliools of Sauk county for eleven years, and is now a prominent business man of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mrs. Prouty is a lady of culture and good education, and was eueaged in teaching for several years. 1 hree children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Prouty, as follows: Florence Edna, Ernest Andrew and Everett Samuel. The sons are twins. Mr. Prouty is active in all public movements, and is a Republican in jjolitical sentiment. He at- tends most of the county conventions, and in 1898 was a delegate to the state conven- tion in the interest of La Follette for gov- ernor. -He is at present chairman of the township committee, and a member of the county committee. He has tilled the office of t(nvnshii) treasurer, and has gained the confidence of the people of his township and county, and is well known as a man of broad mind and energetic character. EUGENE COPELAND THIESSEX. Eugene Copeland Thiessen is a prosper- ous and influential farmer in the town of Leeds, Columbia county, Wisconsin, and is a man wdio jiresents in his own career a magnificent illustration of the advantages that attend a rural life. He is now in the full prime of his manly powers, and coming from a youth and manhood that have been peaceful and orderly, his vital forces are not depleted, but have rather increased and strengthened. It is permitted him to ex- pect a peaceful and protracted old age. Mr. Thiessen was born at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, February 3, 1855, and is a son of Carl and Sarah M. (Green) Thiessen. His father was a native of Mecklenburg Schwer- ein, Germany, and he was born near Ham- burg. He had the usual privileges of edu- cation that the German youth of his time enjoyed, and he was early set to work learn- ing the trade of a cabinet maker. After the old solid German fashion he ser\ed an ap- prenticeship of seven years, and when it was completed he came to the United States, and after spending a few months at New York, and nearly two years at ]\Iartinsburg, New York, he came to this state and worked at the carpenter trade in Fond du Lac for some years. Li 1858 Mr. Thiessen came to Co- lumbia county^ and the next year he bought forty acres of land in the town of Leeds. This was in a state of nature, and required impro\ements from the very beginning. He built a small house, and other needed build- ings, and this was his home until his death, August 31, 1900. He kept active and busy almost e\'ery day, and was happy and con- tented throughout his long and useful life of seventy-nine years. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was always an active and intelligent Republican. His wife died January 4, 1875, at the age of forty-two. She was born near Martins- burg, New York, and her father, a native of that state, died in the town of Leeds at the age of ninety-seven. The father of Francis Green, and the grandfather of Mrs. Sarah M. Thiessen, was killed in the war of the Revolution during the boyhood of Francis. The mother of Mrs. Thiessen died in Rio when she was nearly eighty years old. Fred- erick F. Thiessen, the only known brother of Carl Thiesson, died at Stepney, Connecti- cut. He was a baker by trade, and followed that occupation some years in the city of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thies- sen were 1)orn three sons : Carlton M., of the town of Lowville ; Eugene C, of Leeds ; and Louis F., of Oshkosh. Eugene C. Thiessen has li\ed on the 874 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. homestead from the age of three years. He attended the district school, and has become a very proficient mechanic with a natural aptitude for ahnost any kind of manual work. He is a master hand at a carpenter job, does mason work to compare with the best, and is a worker in leather, both in shoe making and in harness making, that does not need to be ashamed of his handiwork. When he was twenty-one he went to Mason City, Iowa, and spent a year and a half in that place. Then he came back to the paternal homestead, which now consists of one hun- dred and sixty acres, and has resided here since. He has erected a large barn, and greatly improved the other buildings, and this became under his careful management one of the most desirable farms in the town. Mr. Thiessen and Miss Nettie J. Dela- ney were married July 19, 1881. She is a daughter of Simon and Rebecca (Scofield) Delaney, and was born in the town of Low- ville. Her father came to Wisconsin from the county of Chemung, New York, where he was born. He died in the town of Low- ville, in May, 1896, at the age of seventy- nine. Mrs. Rebecca Delaney still lives at Poynette, and is now seventy-two years old. Her father, Daniel Scofield, came to Colum- bia in 1855, and died in Lowville at the age of seventy-nine. His wife, Julia A. (Riker) Scofield, reached the age of eighty- seven years. She was born in Orange coun- ty, New York. The Riker and Scofield families are old New England people. The various members of the Riker family hold an annual reunion at Summit, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Thiessen are the parents of a numerous and interesting family of five children: Charles E., aged eighteen years; George, seventeen years; Mabel, fifteen years; Harold A., eight years, and Sarah K., five years. Mr. Thiessen is a member of the Lowville Presbyterian church, and be- longs to Poynette Camp, No. 1090, Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is agent in the town for the Arlington Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He has always been a Republican, and has taken an active part in party management. He is president of the Farmers' lelephone Company, of the town of Leeds, and is one of the leading men in this part of the county. He is a life member of the Columbia County Agri- cultural Society, and has been general man- ager of the horse department for some years. He is a successful breeder of fine horses, and has exhibited Hambletonian and Morgan horses at the county fairs on numer- ous occasions. He takes an active part also in school matters, and for several years has been clerk of the second district, town of Leeds. COMFORT HAMILTON KNAPP. Comfort Hamilton Knapp, one of the successful pioneers of Sauk county, now living a retired life in the village of North Freedom, has had some interesting experi- ences in the course of his life. He was born in the town of Collins, Erie county. New York, February 19, 1829, a son of John and Deborah (Knapp) Knapp. The Knapp family is of English origin. Sylva- nus Knapp, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, and a cooper by trade, along which line he car- ried on an extensive business in Erie coun- ty. New York, for some years. He died in Jamestown, the latter state, at the age of seventy-eight years. He married a Miss Winn, whose father was a Tory, and moved to Canada soon after the Revolutionary war. Johnson Knapp, our subject's father, was born in Massachusetts, but was quite young when taken by his parents to New York, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1 844 he removed to Dearborn county. In- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 375 diana, where he spent the remainder of his life with the exception of three years, when living in Sauk county, Wisconsin. He died in Dearborn county, Indiana. His wife, also a native of Massachusetts, survived him a number of years, and died in the town of Collins, Erie county, New York, at the age of eighty-four. Her father, Comfort Knapp, was a brother of Sylvanus Knapp. He was a wholesale merchant in Boston for some years, but meeting with misfortune in business, he moved to the town of Boston, Erie county. New York, where he cleared a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in Pine Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-seven years. He was a close communion Baptist, and served as deacon for over forty years. Our subject is the only one in a family of six children who settled in Wisconsin. He has in his possession a picture of his mother and four of her descendants, each representing a different generation, who were living at the same time. He was fif- teen years of age when the family removed to Indiana, and soon afterward he began life for himself by working at farming and other occupations. In 1846 he returned to Erie county. New York, where he lived until 1855, when he came to Sauk county, Wis- consin, and located in the town of Reeds- burg. In April, 1859, he started v/ith a company of prospectors for Pike's Peak, but before reaching their destination they re- ceived unfavorable reports of the mining there and decided to go to Oregon, where Mr. Knapp spent two seasons in mining with indifferent success. The following two sea- sons were spent in Washington and Idaho, 'and he then returned east by way of the Isth- mus, being thirty-one days in making the journey. He left San Francisco in Jan- uary, 1863, and at Aspinwall took passage on the steamer "Ariel" for New York. On the down trip this vessel had been over- hauled in the West Indies by a Confederate vessel, and her guns, sails and other val- uables confiscated. Owing to the preva- lence of the yellow fever on the islands. Captain Semmes, of the Confederate steam- er, allowed the "Ariel" to proceed with her passengers instead of putting them ashore, as was at first intended. He admonished tlie captain of the "Ariel," however, that he would sink the vessel if he again caught her on the sea without the "treasury," or ship- ment of California gold, which she was ac- customed to bring regularly from the Isth- mus. As the rebel cruiser was hovering about the entrance of the harbor in plain sight when ready for the return trip, the usual shipment of gold was left, and during a heavy fog the "Ariel" left the harbor at night without detection, and taking a dif- ferent course from the one usually pm^sued, reached Key West in safety, and from there the voyage to New York was made without difficulty. In 1864 Mr. Knapp, with his family, moved to Idaho, and engaged in farmin* on the Boise river, thirty miles below Boise City. He spent one summer crossing the plains with ox teams and driving several cows. He joined a wagon train at Omaha. They had some Indian scares, but no serious difficulty with the red men. Mr. Knapp arrived in Boise City, September 11, 1864, and remained in Idaho five years, and then returned to Sauk county, Wisconsin, by driving to Ogden, Utah, and there taking the Union Pacific Railroad. He has made a number of trips to the Pacific slope, and twice crossed the plains with teams. After his return to Sauk county, he engaged in farming in Reedsburg township for some years, but since 1888 has made his home in North Freedom, where for a time he car- ried on business as a grain dealer, but is now living retired. On the nth of October, 1848, Mr. 87G COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Knapp was united in marriage with Miss Prusia Maria Fisk, a native of Darljy, \'er- niont, and a daughter of Royal and Harriet (Mead) Fisk. The father was born in tlie same place, of English origin, and the mother in Ferrisburg, Vermont, of Scotch extrac- tion. The first of the Fisk family to come to America settled in Rhode Island. Royal Fisk, who. was a local minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, came to Sauk coun- ty, Wisconsin, in 1854, and first located in Reedsburg township, but ilied in Freedom township, March 29, 187S, aged se\-enty years. His wife died two years later at the same age. To Mr. and Mrs. Knapp were born the following; children : Merritt. a resident of Xorth Freedom; Edwin, of \\'hitman county. Washington : Harriet, de- ceased wife of L. Dearborn; Frank, of Lew- iston. Idaho: Mary, wife of James Randell, of Reedsburg; Laura, deceased wife of ^^^ W. Randell ; Walter, of Whitman county, Washington: and Alma, wife i:>f Frank ]\Ior- ley, of the town of Baraboo, Wisconsin. They also have twenty-two grandchildren living and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Knapp has been an earnest advocate and supporter of ])rohibition since the in- ccpticjn of that mo\-ement. and never with- I'lolds his influence from any enterprise which he Ijelieves will prove of public ben- efit. He has ser\-ed on the town board of Reedsburg a number of vears, and held other local oflices of trust. \\'liere\er known he is held in high regard. WARREN GILBERT. ^^'arren Gilliert may be truly classed as one of the self-made men of Colum])ia coun- t3', AX'isconsin. He lias an elegant home in Lowville township, and for many years was one of the most extensive agriculturists of \\'isconsin. He is a pioneer settler of that l.icality and can recoimt many interesting facts of early life there. Otu" subject was born in the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county, New York,. June 22, 1827, and is a son of Erastus and Nancy (Baker) Gilbert. His father vsas a r.ative of Herkimer county, and while a com- paratively yoimg luen fell from the hay mow 0I his barn and died from the effects of the fall, in 183 1. The grandparents of our sub- ject, Jonathan and Susan Gilbert, moved from Oakham, Alassachusetts, to New York, when the site of Utica was an unbroken forest. The grandfather was a veteran of the Revolutionary war. and he cleared a farm in Herkiiuer county, and reached the age of eighty years there. Two of his sons served in the war of 181 2. The mother of our subject married a second time, and be- came the wife of Stephen Hicks, and re- niiA'ed from Herkimer count}-. The familv was prominent in .Schuyler township for many years, and the grandmother of our subject reached an advanced age there. Warren Gilbert was an only son and af- ter his father's death was mainly reared by h.is grandmother ( iilbert, and it was upon her that he relied largeh- for comfort and ad- ^•ice in his early manhood, and it was upon her ad\ice that he came west. At the age of fifteen j-ears he began to struggle for a li^■c- lihood at farming, earning six dollars per month. He worked for others until the spring of 1848, when he came to Wisconsin. .\n uncle. Jonathan Gilbert, had come west in 1845, from his home in the Empire state, and had located in Columliia county. Jona- than Gilbert lix-ed here until his death in 1889. It was largely owing to his uncle being here th;it tr.rncd the steps of Warren Gilbert to Columbia county. On his ar- rival he entered a pre-emption claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 26, of Low\-ille township. Fle walk'cd one ^~ COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 881 Inmdred miles to the land office at Green Bay to prove his title, and from time to time purchased adjacent tracts, and later owned over three thousand acres of land in Co- lumbia county. He has also purchased con- siderable land in Minnesota and South Da- kota. For some years he hauled his wheat crops to Milwaukee, with an ox team, six days being consumed in the trip. He has engaged extensively in stock raising as well as grain, and at one time owned one thou- sand sheep, and has also owned one hun- dred head of horses at a time. He was one of the incorporators of the Rio State Bank, and has done more or less loan business for some years. His residence and most of the contents burned November 9, 1897, but in 1898 he erected a handsome modern dwell- ing in which he now makes his home, and enjoys peace and plenty in his declining years.' Mr. Gilbert was married in 1848 to Mary Widrick, daughter of John and Maria Wid- rick, of Oneida county, New York. Mrs. Gilbert was born in Herkimer county, New York, and her parents were of Mohawk Dutch descent. Her father died in the town of Lowville, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty- one years. He was possessed of a very strong physique until his last illness. His wife also died at Lowville. Mrs. Gilbert died of paralysis, November 2. 1892, aged about sixty-five years. Of this marriage were born five sons and two daughters. Both the latter died in infancy, one at the age of three weeks and the other at the age of five years. The sons were as folloWiS : George Henry, now living in Freeborn county, Min- nesota; Albert C.. of Martin county, Minne- sota ; James Warren, Charles L. and Eugene A. Each of the three youngest sons con- duct a part of the homestead farm. Mr. Gil- bert has now twenty-two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. One of his grand- children, Eleanor Gilbert, a great favorite and pet of her grandfather, and who was never happier than when in his company, was so unfortunate as to be burned to death, August 27, 1898. Mr. Gilbert was reared in the ]\Iethodist faith, and he attends the Congregational church of Rio, and has been one of the chief contributors to its support. He js a mem- ber of the board of directors of the \\'iscon- sin Home Finding Association. In politi- cal principles he is a Democrat, but supports the best man for ofifice irrespective of party. Naturally shrewd, the early training he received developed in Mr. Gilbert a most ex- cellent business ability, and his eminent suc- cess in the pursuit of wealth is entirely due to his own efforts. Good judgment and well directed energy have lifted him from com- parative poverty into easy affluence and ease. His wide reputation for probity and fairness in all the concerns of life has brought him the warm esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact. A large portion of the community will therefore be pleased to find among the illustrations of this work on other pages portraits of both Mr. Gilbert and his wife. JOHN HENRY DOOLEY. John Henry Dooley, an influential farmer and representative citizen of Colum- bia county, lives on the old Dooley home- stead, in Scott township. The old farm, the place of his birth, is situated in section 33, and here our subject first opened his eyes upon the world September 24, 1854. John Henry Dooley^ was the only son born to Henry and Maria (Barnish) Doo- ley. His parents were natives of Stafford- shire, England, and came to the United States in 1847, arriving in Columbia county, Wisconsin, in June of that year. Henry 382 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Dooley, the father, had been employed for many years in the potteries of Staffordshire, becoming an expert plate maker. He joined the Potters' Emigration Society, which ac- quired a large tract of land in Columbia county, Wisconsin. This land was all in a wild state, and twenty acres thereof was as- signed to Henry Dooley, in section 33, town of Scott. He found it to be in the midst of an unbroken forest. However, he set about making a new home. He built a log cabin and began to clear his land. He afterward purchased more land, and acquired in all the ownership of eighty acres. He had for many years been a great sufferer from asthma, and on January 30, 1878, he passed away, at the age of fifty-nine years, nine months and twenty-six days. Through all his life he had been an industrious man, and an upright and respected member of the communities where he had made his home. His wife, Maria (Barnish) Dooley, died May 3, 1890, aged seventy-one years, eight months and twenty-six days. In her youth she was a member of the Presbyterian church, but united with the Methodist church in Columbia county. Besides our subject, John Henrj' Doo- ley, there were eleven chililren of this worthy couple, all daughters, but three of whom are now living, viz: Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Cook; Ellen E., widow of Ralph Deakin; Maria Louise, now Mrs. William Moore. The two first named live in Scott township, and the latter in W^vocena town- ship. John H. Dooley was reared on the home- stead farm, and attended the district school. He has added twenty-five acres to the origi- nal farm, and has enlarged buildings, and m.ade a great many other valuable improve- ments, and is the possessor of a valuable piece of property. Mr. Dooley was married December 21, 1 880, to Mary Jane Clark, daughter of Samuel and Jane Clark', of Randolph Cen- ter, Wisconsin. They are the parents of four children, namely: Anna J., Stephen Henry, Samuel Carson and John Wallace. Mr. Dooley and his family are connected with the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee. In political faith Mr. Dooley has been a lifelong Republican, and has taken an active interest in public matters. He was elected in 1890 to the office of register of deeds, and has served two terms in that capacity. He was the only new candidate on the Republican ticket of the year 1S90 th.at was elected in the county, all the others suffering defeat. He was the first native born citizen of the county that ever held that office. He has been elected to several local offices from time to time, and has served for five years as township clerk. He is the present chairman of the Scott town board. He is well known throughout the county, and is held in high esteem by all. FRANZ WOHLFERT. Franz Wohlfert, a son of the German empire, whose career in his adopted land has Ijeen crowned with success, is a prominent farmer of Jackson township, Adams county. Ide is an ex-soldier, who bravely defended our Union, and can look back on his ser- vice with justifiable pride. His home is one of comfort and he has added improvements until it is one of the first farms of the town- ship. Mr. Wohlfert was born in the city of Baden, Germany, February 23, 1823, and was the son of Matthias and Elizabeth (Krall) Wohlfert. His father was a lum- berman and farmer who lived and died in Baden. Our subject came to America about 1853, and resided three years in New York COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 88g city, and then caine to Wisconsin, and lived for a time at Sharon, Walworth county, and in 1855 removed to Adams county, settHng in Jackson township on his present farm. He now owns two hundred acres of land with a good set of farm huildings, and car- ries on general farming. Me enlisted in October, 1864, in Company D, Fourth Wis- consin Heavy Artillery, and served eleven months, and was discharged at the close of the war. He was stationed at Brazos City, Louisiana. On the occasion of the assas- sination of President Lincoln, while firing- one hundred guns, our subject lost his hear- ing by the discharge of artillery. While in the service he also suffered from diarrhea and malaria for several months. Mr. Wohlfert was married at Sharon, Wisconsin, October, 1853, to Dena Miller, daughter of George and Cornelia Miller. Mrs. Wohlfert was born in New Beiern, Germany, and came to the United States in 1 85 1. Her father died in Germany, and her mother died in 1870, aged fifty-five years. Mrs. Miller married after the death of her husband, becoming the wife of An- drew Hoffman, who died in Adams county, July, 1890, aged over eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Wohlfert were the parents of the following children: Irvin married Amelia Washburn; Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Horace Stalker, of Oxford; Conrad married Mrs. Cora Aurbach, residing in Kilbourn; An- drew married Hattie Jones, daughter of Nelson Jones ; Jacob married Esther Cart- wright; George married Philadelphia Kel- sey; John married Bertha Burnham ; Au- gust married Kate Huffman; Walter, and Robert. All reside in Adams county, with the exceptions as noted. Walter carries on the homestead farm, and was married March 7, 1899, to Miss Millie Burnham, daughter of Theodore Burnliam. Mrs. Wohlfei't was born in Adams county. Our suliject and wife have .seventeen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mr. \\'ohlfert was reared in the Catholic church, and Mrs. Wohlfert was reared in the Lutheran faith, in which most of the family are baptized, al- though they attend the Jonesville Congrega- tional church, near their home. Mr. Wohl- fert is a member of A. J. Miller Post, G. A. K., at Oxford. He is a Democrat in politi- cal sentiment, although his sons are all Re- publicans. He stands firmly for his convic- tions, is a faithful and earnest citizen, and has aided materially in the upbuilding of Atfams county. THOMAS WILLIAM DUNN. Thomas \Villiam Dunn, proprietor of one of the leading general merchandise stores of White Creek, Adams county, has by dint of honest efforts gained a compe- tence for himself and family, which is worthy the undertaking. He is not a man of much physical vigor, having met with an accident at the age of two and one-half years, which made him a cripple for life, but he is broad-minded and practical and has Uiade a success of mercantile business. He also handles farm machinery, and is well known throughout Adams county, and en- joys his share of the patronage. Mr. Dunn was born in Jefferson county, New York, March 23, 1855. His parents, Robert and Fanny (Fee) Dunn, were na- tives, respectively, of England and New York city, New York, and the father came to .-\merica at the age of thirteen years. He is now a resident of Springville township, Atlams county, Wisconsin, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and the mother is aged seventy-five years. Our subject came to Springville town- ship. Adams county, with his parents when but one year and a half old, and they settled on tlie farm, which is still their home. At 884 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the age of two and one-half years our sub- ject had his hip dislocated, and he was un- able to attend school regularly, but by studying at home he acquired a good edu- cation, and prepared himself for business life. He resided with his parents unt^l about thirty-two years of age, assisting some with the farm work, and then established a general merchandise store in \\'hite Creek, and soon after added the farm machinery. I'or over twelve years he was postmaster, and discharged his duties faithfully and well. Mr. Dunn was married April 2j, iS86, to Amy Esther Foster, daughter of Leon- ard and Esther (Roach) Foster, of Olin, Adams county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, as follows : Oscar Hilbert, born October 30, 1888; and Ira Glen, born September 3, 1892. In re- h'gious faith Mr. Dunn is a Congregation- alist. He has held various township offices, and in every instance has performed his du- ties with rare fidelity and increasyig popu- larity. He is a Republican in political sen- timent, but takes no active part in political movements. He is content to serve his community as a pri\ate citizen, lending his influence for the welfare of those around him, but not participating in public office. He has attained an assured position among the substantial men of his community, and is possessed of an indomitable will, untiring perseverance, and energetic character. MANELIOUS PEARSON, Deceased. Manelious Pearson, deceased, one of the first settlers of Lavalle township, Sauk coun- ty, passed an eventful life in that region, and was one of the prominent citizens of his community. He engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, and at the time of his death was one of the well-to-do men of the county, and enjoyed the highest esteem of his fellow m,en. Mr. Pearson was born near Bradford, Yorkshire, England, in 1810, and was the son of Samuel and Mary (Mitchell) Pear- son. His father was a manufacturer of woolen goods, and resided near Bradford until his death. Our subject was a weaver by trade, and worked thus until thirty-one years of age, when, in 1S42. he came to the United States. He purchased a farm of twenty acres in Indiana, and later moved to Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he conducted one of the finest farms in that region. He returned to England in 1847, ^"d the following year brought his family, consisting of his wife and three chil- dren, to the Wisconsin home. He moved to Lavalle township, Sauk county, in 1848, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, which has since been the old homestead. He erected the first house in the township, and his daughter, Mary Anne, was the first white child born in Lavalle township. The country was wild, and abounded with bears, wolves and Indians, and he saw many hardships, and lived in wigwams with the Indians for some time. At one time he owned most of the land around his homestead, -and at the time of his death was in possession of three hun- dred and twenty acres in Lavalle township, and eighty acres in Palo Alto county, Iowa, which he visited frequently. Mr. Pearson was married in England to Sarah Wroe, daughter of Thomas and Sa- rah ( Worthington) Wroe. The family fol- lowed the occupation of farming, and were in good circumstances. Mrs. Pearson was born August 13, 181 5, and despite her ad- \anced age enjoys good health. She reads without the aid of glasses, and is active. She now makes her home with her son, Christopher. She has crossed the Atlantic COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. §85 three times, and Mr. Pearson took the jour- ney seven times. To Mr. and Mrs. Pearson the following children were born : Charles, born Novem- ber 27, 1833, now living in Inmton, Wis- consin; Martha, born in 1836, now Mrs. James Harrison, of Ironton ; Isaac, born in 1839, died in the fall of 1894; Mary Anne, now Mrs. George Innian, of Chicago ; Thomas, living on the homestead in La- valle township; and Christopher, living on the homestead, which has been divided, and on which he has erected a model residence. Mr. Pearson passed from this life May 28, 1893, in Lavalle, aged eighty-three years. He took great interest in the development 01 the country, and was a loyal citizen, Whose death was a loss to the entire com- munity. He was a stanch Democrat in po- litical sentiment, and on the last election previous to his death cast his vote for the candidat'es of that party. Charles Pearson, the eldest son of Manelious and Sarah (VVroe) Pearson, is a retired farmer, and resides in the village of Ironton. He came to America with his parents in 1848, and enlisted for the preser- vation of the Union in September, 1861, and became a member of Company B, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry. He saw ser- vice under Logan, Howard, Sherman and Grant, and was engaged in the sieges of Vick.sburg and Atlanta, and in the latter en- gagement was wounded in the left knee, September 28, 1864, and has been a sufferer in consequence until the present time. He was engaged upon a battery, and his hearing became affected, so that now he cannot hear well. He was discharged from the ser- vice in November, 1864, at Chattanooga. Returning from the army he engaged in farming near Ironton, and continued thus until 1890, when he sold his farm to his son, Charles, and has since resided in Ironton. Charles Pearson was married Tanuarv i. 1853, to Martha Harrison, daughter of George and Martha Harrison, of Lavalle. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pearson, eight of whom are .still liv- ing, as follows : Eleazer, now living in Ironton township ; Azilla, now M"rs; Rabuck, residing in Lavalle; Jacob, residing in La- valle ; Sarah, now Mrs. Thornton, of La- valle; Selena, now Mrs. Stowe, of Ironton; Charles, residing in Ironton ; Ida, teaching in the public school of Ironton; and Alina, a teacher in the Lavalle school. Mr. Pear- son is a member of H. A. Tator Post, G. A. R. In political sentiment he is a Republi- can, and despite the fact that his afflictions are such as kept him confined to his home, he takes great interest in the affairs of his party. He is a man who has made his in- fluence felt in his community, and is deserv- edly held in high esteem. PETER BAHL, Deceased. Peter Bahl, deceased, while in life was an honored veteran of our great Civil war, and an honest and hard-working man all his life, making his home in the town of Fort Winnebago, Columbia county. More than three-quarters of the century stretched away behind him before called to his rest, and he filled his years with earnest toil and the workings of an upright spirit. Mr. Bahl was born in Goldhausen, province of Nassau, Germany, July 25, 1824, and came of a family prominent in business and agri- cultural circles. His father, John Bahl, was a prosperous farmer and fruit grower, and served for many years as burgomaster of Goldhausen. He was the father of seven sons. One of these served in the German army, and three were surveyors. Three of his sons and one daughter have found homes w ithin the limits of the LTnited States. 386 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Peter Bahl spent his earlier years un- der the parental roof tree, and was bred to the wagon maker's trade in Germany. In 1854 he crossed the ocean, and found work at his trade in Milwaukee, where he contin- ued for nearly two years. From Milwaukee he removed to Dodgeville, and settled on a farm, giving for many years his chief atten- tion to his trade, lie was thirteen years in one shop, and was in demand in neighboring villages. His military experiences were confined to the closing months of the Civil war, but none the less creditable on that ac- count. He enlisted in February, 1865, and was the color bearer seven months. He was stationed at St. Louis and Rolla, Mis- souri, but was taken sick at Springfield, and passed through an exceedingly painful expe- rience, and retired from the army with health much impaired. Mr. Bahl was married soon after coming to this country to Miss Anne Mary Eulberg, a sister of Adam Eulberg, of Portage. She died at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, in 1876, aged thirty-eight years, and was also of German extraction, her birthplace being the village of Muelt, Nassau. She had one brother, and five sisters : Ludwig is a professor of music at Highland, Wisconsin. He grad- uated from St. F"rancis" Seminary, Milwau- kee, and has won a high standing in his chosen calling. Mary is dead. Elizabeth, Emma (Mrs. Theodore Gloeckler) and Su- sie are still living, while Anna died an in- fant. Mr. Bahl was an e.xtensive reader, and took much interest in current affairs. Mr. Bahl died May 9, 1900. CHRISTOPH SPIEHR. Christoph S])iehr. .Among the brave and far-sighted pioneers (d' Wisconsin the hardy, industrious and frugal emigrants were leaders, and ha\'e been important fac- tors in developing and sustaining the va- ried activities which, combined in a harmo- nious whole, constitute our modern civiliza- ' tion. A worthy representative of this class is Christoph Spiehr, who is one of the old- est settlers of Sauk City now living, hav- ing come here from Milwaukee, August 25, 1850. For many years he was actively identified with the business interests of the place, but is now practically living retired. Mr. Spiehr was born September 7, 18 18, in Rehna, Germany, ten miles from Ham- burg, and was educated in his native land, but his opportunities along that line were limited. In early life he commenced learn- ing the tinsmith's trade, but before complet- ing his apprenticeship found that the busi- ness was injurious to his health, and on the advice of a physician abandoned it. Eater he learned the shoemaker's trade, but it seemed difficult, if not impossible, under the existing circumstances to accumulate any- thing, as only by the strictest economy and careful management he was able to meet his- daily expenses. So a change was deter- mined upon, and this country selected as offering the best inducements for a poor man. At the age of twenty-nine he took passage on a sailing vessel at Hamburg, and after a rough and stormy passage of forty- two days' duration finally reached the harbor of New York. At first the skies seemed bright, and amid the regrets of parting from friends and native land, came hope for a better future in this land of liberty, of which he had heard so much. From New York Mr. Spiehr went to Buffalo, and later to Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade and made many friends, among wiliom were leather dealers, who willingly assisted him in subsequent years. As previously stated, he came to Sauk City, August 25, 1850, and as he was without money, and could not afford to hire a con- veyance, he made the journey on foot. This COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 387 section at that time was all wild and unim- proved. He opened a shop in Sauk City, and in order to secure a start worked day and night, sometimes until two o'clock in the morning. He thus proved to the leather dealers in Milwaukee that he was honest, industrious and persevering, and he had no trouble in securing supplies on credit. He continued to work at his trade for many years with good success, but is now living retired, peacefully passing his declining years in caring for his garden and taking life easy. He has platform scales upon his place and weighs hay, etc. Mr. Spiehr married Conradina Biersch- wale, also a native of Germany, by whom he has had four children, three now living, namely: Charles, a druggist of Chicago; Mrs. Louisa Weisenborn, of ^Milwaukee; and Mrs. Bertha Housen, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, whose husband is a college professor. Mr. Spiehr is a free thinker and a member of the Free Congregation of Sauk City, to which he sold the land on which tlieir chapel is built. He was one of the organizers of the society, and one of its first officers. He has witnessed almost the en- tire growth of Sauk City, and in early days took an active part in every enterprise cal- culated to prove of public benefit, securing the ground for a cemetery, organizing the fire company, and using his influence for the establishment of a postoftice here. He is widely known and highly respected, and on the rolls of Sauk county's honored pioneers his name should be among the foremost. He and his wife visited the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, and had a very enjoyable time. ANANIAS HARRIS. Ai;anias Harris, one of the most success- ful farmers of Adams county, was born in the town of Henderson, JefYerson county. New York, December 13, 1812. He has led a life of industry, frugality and temperance, and though now in the eighty-seventh year of his age, he still exhibits remarkable activ- ity of mind and body. He sprang of early New England families, many members of which have been conspicuous for physical longevity, independent ideas and stability of purpose. He is a lineal descendant of Anthony Harris, senior, who was born of Welsh jiar- ents at Richmond, Chester county. New Hampshire, in 1736. Among his children was a daughter, Lydia, who became the mother of Reverend Hosea Ballon, the famous pioneer of Universalism in New England. He also had a son, Anthony, who became the father of Jeremiah Harris, and grandfather of the subject of this no- tice. Jeremiah Harris was also a native of Richmond, New Hampshire, and lived at different times in New York, Canada, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His later years were spent in the last named state, and his death occurred in the town of Springfield, Erie county, about 1 847, at the age of over eighty years. He was an earnest adherent of the Universalist faith, and very fond of relig- ious argument, at which he excelled. Though never ordained as a minister, he frequently filled the pulpit and always attracted goodly congregations. He married Priscilla Cole, who departed this life in 1868, after attain- ing the age of nearly ninety years. She was a daughter of Barnabas Cole, who was born at Chatham, Massachusetts, and en- listed from that state in the Continental army. He is supposed to have been a de- scendant of Isaac Cole, a native of Sand- wich, county of Kent, England, who came to Massachusetts in 1634. In civil life Bar- nabas Cole was a farmer. He died in the town of Conneaut, Erie county, Pennsylva- nia, at the age of nearly eighty years. Jeremiah and Priscilla Harris w'ere the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. parents of seven sons and two daughters, several of whom reached the age of more than eighty years. Their names were : Si- las, Levi, Barney, Luke, Jeremiah, Caleb, Ananias, Sarah (Mrs. C. P. Ellis) and Me- lissa. All but the last named reached ma- ture age, and six of the number became resi- dents of Wisconsin. Levi was a Univer- salist clergyman. Ananias Harris, who is the only survivor of his father's family, was about fourteen years old when he located with his parents in Springfield, Pennsylvania. He lived there until 1856, when he came to Wiscon- sin. After spending one season in the town 01 La Grange, Walworth county, he settled on his present farm in the town of Spring- ville, Adams county. A small clearing had previously been made thereon, and he at once set about its further improvement. From time to time he made additions to the original purchase, and has owned more than a section of land in all. Though he has given each of his children a farm, he still has two hundred and forty acres with sub- stantial improvements. The farm is well stocked and under a high state of cultiva- tion. He has concerned himself very little with public affairs, but has maintained a reputation for strict integrity and persever- ing industry. Mr. Harris was first married, January 20, 1839, to Margaret, daughter of Joshua and Margaret Smith. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and died at Springfield, Oc- tober 6, 1 84 1, at the age of twenty-three years. She left two sons: Milo and Charles G. The latter, who served three years in Company E, Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Lifantry, was seized with con- sumption while in that service and died at Springfield, Pennsylvania, not being able to reach his home in Wisconsin. April 18. 1845, ^^i'- Harris was married to Phoebe Cordelia, daughter of Isaac and Jane (Cole) Brower. Mrs. Harris was born in the county of McKean, state of Penn- sylvania. Her parents were natives of New "^^ork, her mother probably of the same family from which Barnabas Cole de- scended. Six children were born of the last mentioned union, George Britton and Cordelia P. having died in childhood. The survivors are: Margaret E. (Mrs. H. S. Willard), Edson B., Matilda Jane and Julia (Mrs. George Ager), all living in Adams county. CAPT. OLE MATHL-\S BENDIXEN. Captain Ole Mathias Bendixen, a well- known ex-sheriff of Columbia county, has for many years been one of its most highly esteemed and valued citizens. He is of for- eign birth, but his duties of citizenship have ever been performed with a loyafty equal to that of any native son of America, and when the nation was imperiled by rebellion he V, ent to the defense of the Union and pro- tected the cause of his adopted country on many a southern battlefield. A native of Norway, Mr. Bendixen was born in Flekkefiord, Prestigeld, April 14, 1833, a"d is a son of Tollag E. and Anna Maria (Torkelson) Bendixen, also natives nf that place, where the father followed farming for many years, as did also the pa- ternal grandfather and great-grandfather, and the maternal grandfather, Torkel Tor- kelson. In 1850, Tollag Bendixen, with his family, sailed for the United States, and on reaching the shores of this country came di- rect to Columbia county, Wisconsin, locat- ii!g on a farm in Lewiston township, where he died September 2, 1888, when nearly eighty-two years of age. The wife and mother died in 1861. Of the five children born to this worthy couple, three died in Norway, and our subject is the only one now living. CAPTAIH OLE M. BEHDIXEH. MRS. OLE H. BEHDIXEN. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 393 Ole M. Bendixen received a limited edu- cation in the schools of his native land, and was reared to farm life. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his par- ents on their emigration to tlie new world, and has since made his home in Lewiston township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, on the farm which his father took as a squat- ter's claim. He now owns six hundred acres of valuable land divided into four farms, and has for many years made a spe- cialty of hop culture. During the Civil war Mr. Bendixen en- hsted October 29, 1861, in Comppmy D, Fif- teenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land, and at different times was under the command of Commodore Foote, Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman. His first engagement of any importance was the siege of Island No. 10, which was followed by the battles of Perryville, Stone River and Chick- amauga. At the last named engagement he was wounded and sent to hospital No. 8, Nashville, and later transferred to Harvey hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. He rejoined his regiment at Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 8, 1864, and was detailed to take charge of the guard at the hospital on Lookout mountain, having been promoted to the rank of sergeant previous to being wiounded. Three months later he joined his regiment in guarding Whiteside Station, where he re- mained until mustered out February 13, 1865. He received a brevet captain's com- mission, dated October 8, 1862, as a recogni- tion of conspicuous gallantry at the battle of Perryville. On the 22nd of January, 1869, Mr. Ben- dixen married Miss Julia Scott, also a na- tive of Norway, who came to America in 1850 with her parents, Peter and Gonel Scott, of McFarland, Dane county, Wiscon- sin. _ Six children have been born of this union, namely: Anna Maria, now the wife of Christ Anset, of Lewiston township; Jo- sephine Tallene, who successfully engaged in teaching for several, years, and died July 15, 1899; Ella Sophia, now Mrs. Robert Kerr; Tollag Blaine, Lawrence, Amanda G., and Cora Mabel, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bendixen are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Portage, of which he is one of the trus- tees, and was a member of the building com- mittee, and socially he belongs to Roselle Post, No. 14, G. A. R., in which he has served as senior vice-commander. In politi- cal sentiment he has always been a stanch Republican, has been a delegate to most of tlie county conventions of his party since the war, to the state convention in 1890, and to congressional and other conventions, where he has rendered his party effective service. Being one of the most prominent and influen- tial citizens of his community; he has been called upon to fill a number of local offices of honor and trust, serving as township treas- urer five years, member of the board of su- pervisors and chairman of the board in Lew- iston township for two years. In 18S6 he was nominated for sheriff, and though de- feated at that time he was elected to the same office in 1896. His official duties were ever discharged with the utmost promptness and fidelity, worthy of all commendation, and his public and private life are alike above re- proach. He now resides on the farm in Lewiston township. Portraits of Mr. Ben- dixen and wife, shown on other pages in this volume, will please a large circle of friends and acquaintances who are attached to them by admiration and regard for their many sterling virtues and unblemished probity. MILO HARRIS. Milo Harris, an honored and highly re- spected citizen of Kill)ourn, Columbia coun- ty. \\'isconsin, who, after years of active 894 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. labor as an agriculturist, is now living a re- tired life, enjoying the fruits of former toil, was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, September i8, 1839, and is the only surviv- ing son of Ananias and Margaret Harris, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this volume. At the age of seventeen our subject came to Wisconsin, and the greater part of his life has been passed in z\dams county. On the 26th of September, 1864, he enlisted as a recruit in Company K, Twenty-fifth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, under command of Col. J. M. Rusk, afterward governor of the state. He joined Sherman's army after the fall of Atlanta, went on the celebrated march to the sea, and was all through the Carolina campaign. As a private he par- ticipated in the battles of Bentonville, Golds- boro, and Salkahatchie, and the capture of Columbia, South Carolina. At Newbern, North Carolina, he was incapacitated by malarial fever and sent on a transport to New York, where he remained in a hospital at Willet's Point until honorably discharged, June 8, 1865. After the war Mr. Harris engaged in farming in Springville township, Adams county, where he owned a fine farm of two hundred and forty-five acres, and in his undertakings met with marked success, so that he is now able to lay aside all busi- ness cares and spend his declining years in ease and quiet, surrounded by all the com- forts which make life worth the living. He now makes his home in the town of Kil- bourn, Columbia county. On the 2ist of February, 1866, Mr. Harris married Miss Emma M. Willard, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, May 26, 1848. a daughter of Lean- der and Lucy A. Willard. By this union were born two sons : Charles A., born Feb- ruary 3, 1867, died April 14, 1890. Law- rence N. married Lillian L. Billings, a sketch of whose parents is given elsewhere in this volume, and is now operating the old homestead farm in Springville township, Adams county. Mr. Harris was an honored member and held the office of senior vice commander of J. C. Miller Post, No. 143, G. A. R., of Oxford, and in politics is a supporter of the Republican party. He has served as jus- tice of the peace in Oxford, and has Ijeen a member of the board of education three years. Upright and honorable in all the re- lations of life, he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact, and he has a host of friends in the community where he resides. LORENZO GARDNER. Lorenzo Gardner. Among the great agricultural states of the west Wisconsin stands well to the front in the variety and quality of its products, and the grains, stock and dairy, as well as the garden and vine- yard, have returned their full shares re- spectively of the abundance that has earned for this state its enviable rank. Sauk county has not lagged behind in the annual outpouring of nature's riches, and the gen- tleman whose name introduces this biogra- phy, and whose home is in Lavalle town- ship, has for more than a quarter of a cent- ury been recognized as one of the leading and most successful agriculturists of the county. Lorenzo Gardner was born August g, 1838, in Pennsylvania, son of Elisha P. and Phoebe (Jordan) Gardner. Elisha P. Gard- ner was born in Otsego county, New York, and Phoebe (Jordan) Gardner was born near Knoxville, Pennsylvania. Elisha Gardner brought his family to Dane county, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1851, and the next year moved to a farm near Reedsburg, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 895 Sauk county, where he remained three or four years. He afterwards purchased a farm in Winfield township, then sold it, and purchased the farm whicl: became his home- stead, and is now occupied by his son, W. S. Gardner. Ehsha P. Gardner died at La- valle, February lo, 1891, and his faithful wife died in the same village March 21, 1898. Until he was sixteen years of age Lo- renzo Gardner, the suliject of this review, worked on the farm and attended the pub- lic schools of the neighborhood, where he picked up such education as could be gleaned under such circumstances. He has always been a great observer, and he has in this way gathered a fund of practical knowl- edge from many sources that has stood him in good stead on many occasions and af- fords him much pleasure and entertainment. When about seventeen years old he went to Grand Rapids, and engaged in carpenter work. He helped to erect the first frame building in the village of Centralia, now a thriving suburb of Grand Rapids, on the op- posite bank of the Wisconsin river. After about five years of this work he returned to Sauk county and purchased a farm near the old homestead, and this farm he has since occupied. He has made a success of farm- ing, and has an estate of great value, en- hanced by excellent improvements and con- veniences suitable for the prosecution of modern agriculture. He is practical and original in his ideas and keeps pace with advancing methods and progress in this branch of industry. Mr. Gardner was married September 2, 1862, to Sarah J. White, daughter of John and Jane ( Cottrell ) White, natives of Eng- land, who came to the United States in 1848. To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner ten chil- dren have been born, six of whom are now living, named as follows : Etta, born April 3. 1864. now Mrs. Packard, of Canton, Wis- consin; Frank L., born February 10, 1866, living at Lavalle; Mary, born June 30, 1869, now Mrs. Stel^bins, of Woodland, Wis- consin; Elmer, born August i, 1873; Isabel, born February 14, 1882; and Louisa, born July 20, 1883, all at home. Mr. Gardner takes an active interest in public matters, has always been a stanch Republican, has been elected to various town offices from time to time, and has always discharged his trust with honesty, fidelity and to the satisfaction of his constituents. AUGUST RUSCH. August Rusch, one of the oldest engin- eers on the La Crosse division of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and an honored resident of Portage, Wisconsin, was born in Pomerania, Germany, April 2, 1846, a son of WiUiam and Sophia ( Bartel) Rusch, also natives of that place, who in 1847 came to the United States and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the father at first worked at his trade of blacksmith- ing. After a time he entered the shops of the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad at that place, and in 1862 was transferred to the shops at Portage, where he was employed for a number of years, but spent his last days in retirement from active labor, enjoy- ing a well-earned rest. He died in Portage September 9, 1893, at the ripe old age of eighty years. Li political sentiment he was a stanch Republican, and for one term he most capably served his fellow citizens as alderman from the fifth ward of Portage. He was an active and faithful memljer of the Lutheran church, which he helped to or- ganize here, and was a trustee of the same for some years. His estimable wife still survives him, and is living in Portage at the age of seventy-four years. Her parents died 396 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. in Milwaukee. Our subject is the oldest of a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, who reached years of maturity, the others being Frank, a locomotive engin- eer living in Portage; Frederick, a fireman of the same place; Minna, widow of Her- man Kuntzman and a resident of Stillwater, Minnesota; and Bertha, a resident of Port- age. August Rusch was a mere infant when brought by his parents to the new world, and was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee. At the age of fourteen he en- tered the employ of the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad, now the La Crosse divis- ion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with which he has ever since been connected. He began as wiper in the shops at Portage, later was fireman for six years, and since 1869 has been a locomotive en- gineer, being on the passenger run between Portage and Milwaukee for several years past. Being sober, industrious and pains- tc'^king, he is a most valuable employe, as is evinced by his long service with one of the leading railroad companies of the north- west, for it is a well-known fact that such corporations keep in their employ only those who best serve their interests. On the 20th of August, 1882, Mr. Rusch married Miss Augusta Peterman, a daugh- ter of William and Minna (Heuer) Peter- man, of Milwaukee, who were also from Pomerania, Germany, and came to this country in 1839. For many years the fa- ther was a hardware dealer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he died January 9, 1897, aged seventy-one years and eight months, and his wife passed away April 22, 1882, aged fifty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Rusch have been born five children, as fol- lows : Alary, Julia, Edna, Emma and Her- bert. The family occcupy a verv pleasant modern home on Cass street, which Mr. Rusch has recently remodeled, and they are connected with the Lutheran church of Portage. Fraternally Mr. Rusch is a mem- ber of Division No. 66, B. of L. E., and politically is identified with the Republi- can party, but takes no active part in politics aside from voting. He is widely known and highly respected, and justly merits the high regard in which he is held, for his life has always been honorable and upright. JAMES FRANKLLN VON ALSTINE. The dells of the Wisconsin river furnish ideal places for country homes, and among those who have taken advantage of one of the brightest spots on which to locate is the gentleman whose name heads this review. Flis farm is one of the finest in the vicinity, and he has spared no pains to make it such, and the natural surroundings have aided in liis \vork. The farm is part of what Hs known as Witch's Gulch, and has almost a mile of river frontage, making" it an ideal spot for tourists and a valuable farm prop- erty. His homestead is located in Dell Prairie township, and he has been a resident of Adams county for a quarter of a cen- tury, and is well known and enjoys an en- viable reputation. Mr. Von Alstine was born in Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1840, and was the son of Joseph and Harriet (Blake) Von Alstine. His father was born in Scho- harie county, New York, and his mother in Onondaga county, New York. The father was engaged in early life in the salt works in Syracuse, and later followed farming. He came west in 1853, to Baraboo, Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he remained one \ear, and then moved to Lyndon, Juneau county. He removed to Springville town- ship. Adams county, in 1856, and purchased land on which he conducted farming until COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 397 his death March i6, 1874. His wife died October 12, of the same year, and both were buried in Kilbourn cemetery. Our subject came to Wisconsin with his parents when thirteen years of age and had previously attended school in Pierpont, Ohio, and when the family located in Sauk county, he attended school in Baraboo. After moving to Juneau county he worked in the pineries and was thus engaged fif- teen winters, and spent twenty-six summers as raftsman on the Wisconsin, Yellow and Mississippi rivers. He moved to his pres- ent home in 1874, and has been a continuous resident of Dell Prairie township since. Mr. Von Alstine was married, October 16, 1857, to Eliza O'Connor, daughter of William and Elizabeth O'Connor, of Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Von Alstine's father was born near Niagara Falls, Canada, and left there in 181 2, and her mother was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents came to Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin, in 1844, and the father was a cooper by trade, but farmed while there. The fam- ily moved to Sauk county in 1 854, and after one year came to SpringA'ille township, Adams county, and remained until 1859, thence moved to Necedah, Juneau county, and the father engaged in the lumber and cranberry business. He purchased a farm in Lisbon township, Juneau county, in 1862, on which he pursued farming until his death ill 1875. The mother of Mrs. Von Alstine died in 1873, ^^^'^ '^oth parents rest at New Lisbon. Mr. and Mrs. Von Alstine are the parents of the following children : William died in 1872; Emmett, farmer, in Dell Prairie township; Helen, now Mrs. Hamil- ton Tyler, of Dell Prairie; Albert, in Big Springs, Adams county; Warren, in Dell Prairie township; George, employed in the car service on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad; Edith, residing at home; Her- bert, at home; and Frederick, at home. Mr. Von Alstine is a Republican in political sentiment, but does not seek public prefer- ment. He is interested in his community's welfare, and supports feasible public meas- ures and enterprises. SAMUEL SAMPSON. For the past half a century Columbia county has had no more energetic and able representative among her farming com- munity than the gentleman above named. He is the possessor of a fine estate in Ot- sego township and has gained an abundance of property to tide him through his declin- ing years and also possesses an enviable reputation. Our subject was born near Bergen, Nor- way, March 6, 1837, and was a son of Tor- bm and Anna (Ellingson) Sampson, na- tives of Voss, near Bergen. His father was a farmer in Norway, and came to the United States in 1844. After spending four years in Boone county, Illinois, he came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and settled in the town of Lowville, where he pur- chased wild land. He resided there until his death October 2, 1897, aged nearly eighty-eight years. The paternal grand- father of our subject, Samuel Sampson, lived and died in Norway. Our subject's mother died in the town of Lowville, Co- lumbia county, December 12, 1897, aged ninety years. The parents of Samuel Samp- son were members of the Lutheran church, of Bonnett Prairie, which they assisted in organizing soon after going to the county in 1849. The following children were born to this worthy couple: Samuel, our subject; Peter died in Jackson county, Wisconsin ; Severt, of Wilkins county, Minnesota; Ever, deceased, served four years in the U. S. army during the Civil war in the 398 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Thirty-second \\'isconsin Volunteer In- fantry, marclied with Slierman to the sea ■ and participated in numerous battles; El- ling died in Minnesota ; Anna, residing in Rio, \\'isconsin. Samuel Sampson came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, at the age of twelve years, and at the age of eighteen years be- gan farming for himself. About 1870 he purchased eighty acres of his present farm in the town of Otsego. His entire tract of two hundred acres is now, thoroughly im- proved with substantial and commodious buildings, his own w^ork, and he has pros- pered to a remarkable degree. He has gi\-en attention to tobacco culture for the past few years and is also interested in stock rais- ing. For twenty-five years he operated a threshing machine and introduced the first steam machine in the county. He was a stockholder in the first cooperative cheese factory at Rio, of which he later became sole owner, and he also built a creamery in the village of Otsego and operated the same three years. Our subject was married December 25, 1858, to Esther Christine Jurgerson, daugh- ter of Hans and Carrie (Gunderson) Jur- gerson. Mrs. Sampson was born in Holden, Norway, and came to the United States with her parents in 1846. The family spent one wninter in Walworth county and then settled in the town of Otsego, being among the pio- neers of Columbia county. Mr. Jurgerson died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother died about 1852. Mrs. Sampson was adopted in childhood by her aunt and uncle, Peter and Kjerste (Gunderson) Hal- vorson, with whom she lived until her mar- riage. The present home of Mr. and Mrs. Sampson is the homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson, who settled there in 1846. Mr. Halvorson died in 1884. aged seventy-six years, and his wife died two years later, aged eightv-two vears. Mr. and Mrs. Sampson are the parents of fourteen children now living, and one other who died in in- fancy. Those who reached maturity are as follows : Thomas, residing in Rio, Wiscon- sin, traveling representative of a grain firm; Mary C, now Mrs. Rev. H. Engh, of Thors- by, Alabama; Anna C, now Mrs. O. Jar- show, of Hazel Run, Minnesota ;Henry, cash- ier of the Bank of Elbow Lake, Elbow Lake, Minnesota ;SinaM., now Mrs. Rev. Otto Ot- tesen, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa ; Clara L., now Mrs. Rev. O. M. Vereide, of Buffalo Center, Iowa ; George, residing at home, a gradu- ate of Stoughton Academy, and a commer- cial traveler; Cora E. ; William O. ; Her- man A., assistant cashier of a bank at Mon- tevideo, Minnesota ; Walter O. ; Elmer A. ; Olga Rosina and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Sampson have twenty-three grandchildren. The family has enjoyed good advantages and is connected with the Bonnett Prairie Lutheran church, of which Mr. Sampson was a trustee for many years. He contrib- uted toward the erection of the stone church edifice erected in 1867. He is well known in local affairs of Otsego township and was chairman of the board for three years. Po- litically he is a Republican, but in recent years is not active in party affairs. HENRY SARRINGTON. Henry Sarrington, a prominent miller and business man of Delton, Sauk county, has been a resident of that region over thirty years, and has aided in the upbuild- ing of his township and county, and is well known for his industry and honesty. His mill was the first one built in that vicinity, and he enjoys a large patronage from many miles around. Mr. Sarrington was born at Ketter- ing, Northampton, England, December -5- 1835. and was the son of Jonas COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 899 and Eliza Ann (Baker) Sarrington. His father was a farmer l\v occupatiim ami never left his native land, both he antl his wife dying in England. Our sub- ject was afforded good educational ad- vantages, and attended school until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he was apprenticed to the trade which he has followed throughout his life. He was ap- prenticed for three years to a miller and was employed thus until he came to America, in the winter of 1856. He arrived at New York March 6, 1857, and at once proceeded to Oneida county, where he located and fol- lowed his trade three years. He then de- cided to turn his way westward, and see what was in store for a young man of good ability and strong will, and accordingly came to Wisconsin, and for one year made Berlin his home. He then moved to Retton, where he stayed three years as miller, and in 1867 removed to Delton, Sauk county, and was employed as miller until 1882, when he pur chased the property and business and has continued as proprietor to the present time. Dell creek furnishes good power, and the mill does the best of work. He is a thor- ough miller and his business steadily in- creases. The mill was the first grist-mill built in that section of the country. Mr. Sarrington was married, July 4, 1865, to Susan Bolderson. Mrs. Sarring- ton died July 7, 1889, leaving three chil- dren, as follows : Evelyn, now Mrs. Julius Sumner, of Detroit, Michigan; Leslie H., working with his father in the mill at Del- tun; and Grace, attending school in Poy- iiette, Wisconsin. Mr. Sarrington married Emma Mash, of Excelsior township, Sauk county, January 2, 1893. Mr. Sarrington is a man of excellent characteristics, and has devoted a great share of his time to the interests of his com- munity. At one time and another he has held most of the important offices of trust in his township, and in every instance has performed the duties with a oneness of pur- pose and ability which has won for him the confidence and esteem of his associates. He was district treasurer for nine years, and his popularity is marked throughout the county. In political faith he is a Demo- crat, and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He keeps abreast of the times, and in all matters of a public nature gives his support when the interests of his com- munity will be enhanced by so doing. He came into the state when it was a wild coun- try, and has witnessed its transformation into one of the foremost countries of the west, and it is to his iniiuence in a great measure the present high state of civiliza- tion found in Sauk county is traceable. He did his duty as a pioneer and then contin- ued along the same line working for his fellowmen, and is now held in their minds and hearts as a loyal citizen and friend. LYMAN N. MORSE. Lyman N. Morse, an enterprising agri- culturist of Adams county, Wisconsin, is the owner of a fine farm near Big Spring, and his management of the place is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which characterize the modern farmer. He was bijrn in Big Spring, Septemlser 2t,. 1851, an^l is the oldest son of Uri Morse, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He was educated in the common and high schools of Kilbourn City, and as a steady and industrious youth, he assisted in the labors of the home farm until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Morse be- gan teaching school in Pittsville, Wood county, Wisconsin, where he successfully fol- lowed that pursuit for three years, but his 400 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. health would not permit its continuance. Believing that farming would prove bene- ficial, he purchased eighty acres of very fertile land in New Haven township, Adams county, in 1875, and not only placed the land under excellent cultivation, but also made many substantial improvements there- on, planting an orchard and erecting good buildings. In 1888 he removed to Big Spring, having come into possession of one hundred and twenty acres near that village, ninety acres of which were under cultiva- tion. Here he raises small grain and clover, and is quite extensively interested in the breeding of horses, cattle and hogs. In- dustrious, persevering and enterprisnig, he has become one of the most successful farm- ers in the locality. On the 19th of March, 1876, Mr. Morse was united in marriage with Miss Georgia M. Wells, who was born near Big Spring, September 9, 1856, and was educated in the common schools. Her father, Simeon S. Wells, was born in Berlin, Vermont, Feb- ruary 20, 1816, and died January 18, 1874. He was married, June 15^, 1842, to Mary A. Smith, who was born in Hatley, Canada East, February 25, 1825, and now lives with her children. Our subject and his wife have four children : Leslie L., born April 29, 1880; Arthur D., born March 24, 1883; Clara M., born June 26, 1886; and Horace C, born October 16, 1889. Mr. Morse was one of the organizers of the town iire insurance company, in which he has filled important official positions, and through his efforts and good management the organization has been placed on a solid basis, the community owing him a debt of gratitude for being able to secure cheap fire and lightning insurance. Politically he is a Republican and has represented his town many times in the conventions of the party. He is also a prominent member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which lodge he has filled the most responsible of- fices. Since the age of eighteen years he has been an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at the age of nineteen was chosen superintend- ent of the Sunday school, which position he has filled almost continuously since. He takes a deep interest in everything for the good of the community, his influence is great and always for good, and his example is well worthy of emulation. THADDEUS LEUTE. The foreign-born residents of Wiscon- sin have contributed a large proportion to. the development of that state, and the Ger- man empire has many able representatives among the number, foremost of whom may well be mentioned the gentleman whose name is presented to the readers. He has made a success of the pursuit of agriculture in his adopted land, and his estate is one of the best in Dell Prairie township, Adams county. He labored through many weary years dur- ing his early settlement in this region, and his estate of the present day bears little trace of its primitive condition. He now has commodious and substantial buildings, ex- cellent land cleared for cultivation, and va- rious other improvements which would pre- sent themselves to the visitor in a way that would at once call to mind the lab^>r neces- sary to bring it to its present high state of cultivation and improvement. Mr. Leute was born in Baden, Germany, October 28, 1832, and was the son of Thad- deus and Frances (Matheus) Leute, of Ba- den, Germany. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and passed his career in his native land. Our subject until fourteen years of age attended school, and was afterward en- gaged at farm work until twenty-two years of aee, when he came to America and located IT COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ■403 in Dell Prairie township, Adams county. He purchased the farm where he now resides, and has been a continuous resident of that township since. He owns one hundred and fifty acres of good land, and the buildings on the estate have all been erected by him. It took careful management and earnest lal)or to accomplish the purpose for which he came to the new home, but he never once lacked the courage to proceed with his task, and is to- day one of the substantial men of his com- munity. Mr. Leute was married October 28, 1867, to Kunigunda Naber, daughter of Lawrence and Kunigunda Naber, of Bayern, Germany. Mrs. Leute's father came to the United States in 1866, and located at Kilbourn, where he engaged in farming for about ten years. His death occurred about 1889, and he was buried at Kilbourn. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leute. as follows: Theodore, born June 2^), 1869, now working with his father on the home farm; Mary Ann, born October 12, 1871, now residing at home ; Helena, born Alay 30, 1882, residing at present at home, and Thad- deus, the first born, who died at the age of fourteen. Mr. Leute is a communicant of the Catliolic church at Killjdurn. He is an excellent example of a self-made man, and in the gaining of a competence and his pres- ent estate he has made for himself an en- viable reputation as an industrious and hon- est man. His vocation is one well suited to his characteristics and calls forth hospitality, charity and brotherly kindness. He has not been active in political movements, but is a gentleman who keeps abreast of the times on the important issues, and lends his influence for right and the best in local and national government. The development and exten- sion of the great agricultural interests in this part of the county are in part due to his in- dustry and push, and the success which has been his is justlv deserved. Portraits of Mr. Leute and his estimable wife are shown on another page in this vol- ume. FREDERICK B. HA^IILTON. Frederick B. Hamilton, for many years a successful and public-spirited citizen of Waushara county, has a home in Hancock, v/here he is interested in assisting his two sons in their business,, as far as age and health will permit. His business standing is be- yond question, his personal character above reproach, and though he has all but com- pleted the allotted measure of life and is still alert and vigorous. The Hamiltons are an old New England family, and Lebbeus, the father of Fred- erick, was born in HaHfax, Windham coun- ty, Vermont, in May, 1794. After the good old American fashion he moved west as soon as he became of age, and settled in Pennsylvania. There he presently found a wife, Sally Dickinson, who proved herself a helpmeet to him in every relation of life. In 1856 he brought his family into Adams county, where he pre-empted forty acres, and with his sons Frederick and Silas bought in addition two hundred and eighty acres of unimproved land, for which they paid a dollar and a quarter an acre. In 1864 the father and Silas died of smallpox. That year Frederick sent his name to Wautoma for enlistment, but he was taken sick and for a time could not leave home. Before he had recovered he was drafted, and promptly reporting at La Crosse, he was as- signed to Company H, Eighteenth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and served through- out the remaining months of the Civil war. He was discharged at Troy, New York, May 26, 1865. The most important strug- gle in which he participated was that known as the battle of Wilcox Bridge, North Caro- lina, a fierce conflict that covered three days, 404 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY from the 8th to tlie loth of March, 1865. His- associations with the great struggle for the Union are very precious to him, and he has long been an earnest and hard work- ing member of the Grand Army. He be- longs to Tom. Ubank Post, No. 150, lo- cated at Hancock, and for }-ears he has served as its commander, and in e\'ery way has identified himself with its prosperity. ^^"llen Mr. Hamilton returned from the war he sold the farm which he had pur- chased with his father and brother, settled up all claims against it, and bought an eighty-acre tract in section 12, in the town of Leola, wdiich he speedily converted into a very attractive and profitable establish- ment. In 1874 he was elected county treas- urer and remo\'ed to Friendship, which was Ihs home for six years. In 1S81 he re- turned to his farm, and continued its culti- vation for the next ten years. In 1891 he took charge of the general store that was inaugurated by the Farmers' Alliance, and was its manager for some several years. At that time the changed conditions of the Alliance seemed to make it advisable to sell the store, and Mr. Hamilton settled and severed his connection with the Alliance and went onto a small farm for a time, after which he bought the property in the village cf Hancock which is now his home. Mr. Hamilton was born in the town of Gibeon, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 18, 1831, and has put behind him a long and active life. Wherever he has been he has the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been associated. While he lived in Adams county there was not a year in which he was not associated in some way with the town and county affairs. He served on the county board twelve years, and was several times its chairman. He is a Republican and inclines to broad and patriotic interpretations of all questions, He was married to Harriet Barnes, in iiis native village, June 26, 1852, and is the fa- tl'ier of four children : Emma, Sylvester, Stanley and Eugene. Stanley was married to Leafy Fansler, and lives in Hancock. Here also lives his brother, Eugene, whose wife was known before her marriage as Hattie Coggins. Mrs. Hamilton's father, Amos Barnes, was born in Connecticut. He was a farmer and came to Pennsylvania ir early life, where he married Mary Bel- cher. His father, Nehemiah Barnes, was a native of Connecticut and served in the Revolution. Mr. Hamilton's grandfather, John Ham- iUon, married Amy Angel. His maternal grandfather, Jonathan Dickinson, married Betsy Bull at Hoosick Fahs, New York, and moved to Sandy Creek, and was there at the time of the battle of Sacket Har- bor, in the war of 1812. The contending forces swept across his farm, and his experi- ences became interesting matter for remin- iscences in after years. Stanley Hamilton was a man of aft'airs in Adams county, and when his father w^as county treasurer he taught school in Friend- ship and was widely knowti as a capable teacher. After his marriage he located in Friendship and conducted a jewelry store. For six years he was clerk of the court. In 1894 he removed to Hancock and went into trade in company with J. W. Gunning, and opened up a combined jewelry and fur- niture store. Eugene Hamilton is also a resident of Hancock. He owns a fine farm in Adams county, consisting of one hun- dred and forty acres, but prefers to live in town and is carrying on an extensive livery business. THOMAS MAIR. Thomas Mair, a highly esteemed citi- zen of Poynette, Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, was born in the parish of Loudon, Ayr- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 405 shire, Scotland, September 30, 1821, and is the eldest son of Charles and Agnes (Mc- Climont) Mair, both born among "Lou- don's bonnie woods and braes." Many generations of the Mairs ha\'e lixed in that parish, and no small number of Lhem were employed in the looms of that region. Charles Mair became an expert weaver of muslin and lace at New Milns, where he reached the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Agnes Mair reached the age of sev- enty years. She was the daughter of John IsIcClimont, also a lace weaver, and his family was among the oldest in Ayrshire. Charles and Agnes Mair were the parents of thirteen children, and three of their sons, Thomas, Andrew and Hugh, became resi- dents of the town of Arlington. Hugh has returned to Scotland. Thomas Mair learned the lace-maker's trade, and turned many a fine sample of hand-made goods. In 1849 '^^ came to the United States and located for a short time at Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he worked in a foundry about a year, and was then en- gaged in farming for some time in Rock county, and in the fall of 1855 he came to Columbia county. Here he bought eighty acres of land. It was utterly wild at the time of his purchase, but he gradually brought it to a high state of cultivation, and inade it the nucleus of a fine farm. He bought more land as the years rolled by and at one time had the title to a handsome farm of two hundred acres. He divided his at- tention between grain and live stock, and was a prosperous and successful farmer. In the spring of 1886 Mr. Mair sold his land and went to live in the village of Poynette, where he built a substantial brick residence for himself, and is the owner of several valuable houses and lots in the town. Thomas Mair and Agnes Jamieson were married in 1844. She was an estimable and lovely wife and mother, and died in 1893, leaving eight children. She was born in Loudon, Scotland, and was a member of the Poynette Presbyterian church. She reached the age of sixty-six. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Mair are as follows: Sarah Anna died in December, 1892, at the age of thirty years; Charles lives in the town CI Arlington; Janet is the wife of William Robertson, of the town of Arlington ; Ag- nes is Mrs. R. Haddon, of Sparta, Wis- consin; Hugh is in Spink county. South Dakota; Jean is Mrs. James W. Duff, of Arlington; Mary is at home; Marion is Mrs. Charles Slothower, of Madison, Wisconsin; and Margaret is Mrs. Earle W. Drake, of Poynette. They have all had good educa- tions, and several have been teachers. There are twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild in the family. Mr. Mair is an elder of the Presbyterian church at Poynette, with which he has been associat- ed for forty years. He has been a Demo- crat, but has never cherished political am- bitions of any sort. WILLIAM BEVERIDGE KENDALL. William Beveridge Kendall, one of the most intluential conductors on the Madison di\'ision of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, residing at Baraboo, Wisconsin, was born in Hoosick Falls, New York, De- cember II, 1857, and is a son of Levi G. and Abbie (Barrell) Kendall. The father, now one of the oldest and most trusted em- ployes of the same road, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 2, 1827, a son of Andrew L. and Ruth (Fishel) Kendall. The Kendalls are of English descent, and the family was founded in Massachusetts about 1700. Our subject's grandfather was born in Royalston, Woixester county, that state, and for some years followed the carpen- 406 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ter's trade in Boston, where he died at the age of thirty-five years. His wife was born ill the same place, of Quaker Hneage, and died in Simsbury, Massachusetts, at the age of eighty-three. 1 he father of our sub- ject was only six years old when his mother removed to Royalston with her fi\'e chil- dren, the others being Alljert, who died in Worcester, that state; Lucius, a justice of the peace of Sewell, Massachusetts ; Louise, widow of Nathan N. Harlow, and a resi- dent of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; and Sophia, wife of George Newton, a con- tractor of Chicago. Leaving home at the age of twenty-one years, Levi G. Kendall began work on the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad as a section man; was promoted to foreman six months later ; and at the end of the follow- ing six months was made baggagemaster between Brattleboro, Vermont, and Boston. Subsequently he served as freight conductor for some time, and in 1858 came to Wis- sin and entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwesern Railroad, which then had but ninety miles of track. He was foreman of construction under contractors, building the road from Harvard to Rockford. In 1862 he enlisted as second corporal in Com- pany H, Twenty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Army of the Cumberland, and par- ticipated in the battles of Champion Hills and Murfreesboro, but after serving one year he was wounded in the right hand and discharged. He was roadmaster on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad from 1863 to 1870, and in the latter year hired one hundred men in Chicago, and began the construction of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad from Madison toward Baraboo, as assistant superintendent of construction under con- tractors Cox & Howard and others, continu- ing in that capacity until the road was com- pleted past tunnel No i. Near there he purchased one hundred acres of land and laid out a town which was named in his honor. In 1873 he was appointed roadmas- ter on the Madison division and laid the track between Elroy and Sparta, and after- ward relaid it with steel rails. Since 1889 he has been foreman of the Baraboo railroad yards. Between the Kinzie street bridge, Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois, he laid the first steel rails on the Chicago & North- western Railroad, in 1870, these rails cost- ing one hundred dollars per ton. In 185 1 he married Abbie Barrell, a nati\-e of Ashby, Massachusetts, who died in Vincennes, In- diana, in 1865, aged thirty-eight years. They had two sons, William B., our sub- ject, and Newton, who died in infancy. The father was again married, in 1867, his sec- ond union being with Louise M. Barrell, a sister of his former wife and a daughter of Nelson and Mehitable Barrell. By this marriage there is one daughter, Abbie, wife of John Layden, of Baraboo. Mrs. Ken- dall was the first worthy matron of Baraboo Chapter, O. E. S., and for ten years or more has been its representative to the grand chap- ter of Wisconsin. The subject of this sketch was only a small boy when brought by his parents to Baraboo, Wisconsin, where he attended the high school for a time. In 1873 he became a brakeman on the Madison division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad ; later was baggage man between Elroy and Winona for two years; and on the 2nd of September, 1883, was promoted to conductor, in which c.'ipacity he has since served, running be- tween Baraboo and Winona at the present time. He has a pleasant home on Fifth ave- nue, Baraboo, erected by him in 1886. On the 25th of December, 1882, Mr. Kendall was united in marriage with Miss Josephine McGary, a daughter of Selime and Alvira (Fox) McGary, of Norwalk, Wis- consin. The father was born in Vermont of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and the mother is COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 407 a native of Ohio. About 184S they came to this state and located on a farm near Nor- \\s.\k. Our subject and his wife have three children living, Raymond Levi, Walter Selime and Abbie May, while two died in infancy. The family attend the Methodist ch.urch, of which Mrs. Kendall is a member. Mr. Kendall is a member of Baraboo Division, No. 68, O. R. C, of which he was secretary eight or nine years, chief con- ductor one year and a member of the griev- ance committee ten years, being chair- man of the same eight years. He also be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and Baraboo Lodge, N0.34, F. & A. M., and both he and his wife are members of Baraboo Chapter, No. 21, O. E. S. Since casting his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes, in 1876, he has been a supporter of the Republican party and its principles. JOHN LLOYD W1LLL\:MS. John Lloyd ^\'illiams, one of the old- est surviving pioneers of Columbia county, Wisconsin, resides in Cambria, and is re- tired from active pursuits. He has a handsome residence in the town and is an honored citizen. Our subject was born in Brantrion, Llanllynfni, Caernarvonshire, Wales, in Oc- tober, 1 82 1, and was a son of Daniel and Ann (Davis) \\'illiams. His mother died on the sea while coming to America in 1847. The father completed the journey and lived in the town of Courtland until i860, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a weaver by trade, following the occupation of his father, William Will- iams. Records of the Williams family have been preserved for five hundred or more years, and indicate that its members have generally been conrpicuous for long life. Another noteworthy fact is the large num- 1)er of ministers of the Gospel and other professional men recorded. Among these is Rev. Michael Roberts, a leading divine of the C. M. Church in his day. The present; representatives of the family of Daniel and Ann Williams in Cambria are as follows: John, Robert, and Daniel, alt of whom have lived in Columbia county, Wisconsin, since 1847. Their average age is over eighty years, a record which probably can- not be duplicated in Columbia county. John Lloyd Williams was engaged in the slate quarries from boyhood, where two or th.ree thousand men were employed. He came to the United States in 1846. spend- ing six weeks on the sea. From Milwau- kee he drove to Columbia county and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Courtland and Springvale townships for SIX hundred dollars. But seven or eight acres of this had been broken, and he resided on that farm for many years and thoroughly imprcned the place. He disposed of the farm about 1880 and removed to the vil- lage of Cambria, where he built a fine resi- dence and he has since lived in practical ritirement, finding his chief employment in the care of his grounds. His home is one of the most attractive in the village, and the house, with its surroundings and shade trees, and well kept lawn bespeak the taste and industry of the owner. Our subject was married in 1853 to Eleanor Williams, a daughter of Richard P. and Jane (Roberts) Williams. Mrs. Eleanor Williams was born in the parish of Guffin, Valley of Conway, September 26, 1827. The homestead farm on which she was born was owned by the family of Mrs. Jane Roberts Williams, the ■last named lady being a daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Roberts. Richard P. Williams came to America in 1848 and settled on a farm in the tnwn of Spring\-ale, which farm is now owned by his son, Henry R. 408 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Williams. R. P. Williams reached the age of eighty-one years and died March 4, 1869. He followed farming throughout his life. His father, William Pritchard, lived and died in Wales on a farm called "Coid- maorw." Mrs. Jane \\'illiams died fifteen years before her husband. Ten children were born to them, of whom three died in Wales. 1 he surviving children were as fol- lows: Thomas; Eleanor (wife of our sub- ject) ; Jans; William; Richard; Henry, now deceased ; and David, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. John Lloyd ^Villiams are members of the C. M. church of Cambria, which church they assisted in organizing, and are highly esteemed in the community where they have spent half a century. PHILIP HAYES. Philip Hayes, one of the old and honored citizens of New Haven township, Adams county, W'isconsin, whose time and attention are devoted to agricultural pursuits, was born near Dublin, Ireland, ^une 2, 1823, and at the age of ten years went to sea as an apprentice. During the seven years spent upon the water, he was gradually pro- moted until he became boatswain. He vis- ited many of the im])ortant ports of the world, encountered many se\ere storms- and had many narrow escapes. In 1846 he be- came a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he made his home for fifteen years, and during that time he made many voy- ages to Cuba and other islands of the West Indies, also to New York and Boston, and when on land was foreman of an establish- ment. He took an acti\-e part in the Cuban troubles of 1851, under General Lopez, the filibuster, and had some exciting experiences, being chased by the Spaniards and the United States government utticials. They started from St. Catherine's Island with a load of soldiers, and were captured by a United States cutter, but after receiving a scolding were released. They also carried soldiers from New Orleans and landed them near Moro Castle. In 1859 Mr. Hayes came to Adams county, Wisconsin, and at a nominal price bought two hundred acres of land in New tiaven township, one-half of which he now has under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial build- ings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. As an agriculturist he has been eminently successful. At St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Hayes was married, in November, 1849, to Miss Kath- erine McCarty, who was born in Preston, England, in 1824, and when quite young came with her parents to the new world, lo- cating in New Orleans. She died in New Haven township, Adams county, Wiscon- sin, in 1889. By this union were b(jrn nine children, of whom two are successful miners ar.d fruit growers of California; one is en- gaged in lumbering in California; two are in Dakota, engaged in merchandising and farming; one is a prominent man in public affairs; one is superintendent of a mine in Montana; while Henry has charge of his father's farm and also owns and operates a steam thresher. For many years Mr. Hayes was eni- ployed by a government surveying party on Fox river in the capacity of cook. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and in religious faith is a Catholic. He is high- ly respected and esteemed by all who know him and has a host of warm friends in Adams county. WILLIAM COOK. William Cook is a prosperous farmer of the town of Scott, Columbia cnurty, \\\\o lias been a resident of ^^'isconsin fur half COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 409 a century, and in that time what stupendous chang-es has he nnt witnessed ? He was born at West Ferry, Lincohisliire, England, Au- gust 6, 1 84 1, and is a son of John and Jane (Jarvis) Cook, liotli natives of West Ferry. His father was a farmer, and also operated a three-horse-power tliresliing machine, used for the purpose of cleaning grain in such a way that it would not be broken, and be fit for thatching roofs. In 1850 he brought his family to Wisconsin, and lo- cated at F"ox Lake, where he spent six years. At the expiration of this time he bought a farm in Scott township, Columbia coun- ty, upon which he made his home until the day of his death, November 7, 1891, at the age of seventy-eight years, eight months. His wife died May 13, 1859, when forty- three years old. Mr. Cook, the subject of this article, has lived on his present farm since 1856, with the exception of three years which he spent on a rented place in the same t(_)wnship. He owns a quarter-section of land, and has brought it forward to a high pitch of agri- cultural perfection. He has erected com- fortable and commodious buildings, and is enjoying those privileges that come right- fully to the aged tiller of the soil, who has won his living from the teeming earth, and has put aside an ample competence for his declining years. He gives his chief atten- tion to live stock. Mr. Cook and Miss Elizabeth Ann I)(jo- ley were married July 22, 1865. She is a daughter of Henry D(_)oley, an early set- tler in Scott township, and she is the first white child native to the town. .She is the mother of six children: Jane M., who is Mrs. F. Rust, of Glidden, Iowa; John H. is a street car conductor in Milwaukee ; Nellie M. is Mrs. Frank M. Dowell, of Webster City, Iowa; William B., Henry D. and Lillie P. are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have six grandchildren. He has for many years been a recognized leader in temperance work, was long associated v.ith the local lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has taken a very in- dependent attitude in politics. He is a man of character and the lesson of his life is a good one. Honesty and industry do count, and the man who is willing to work hard, endure privations and keep his word, is bound to succeed. CHRISTIAN OBKECHT, DECi-.vsED. Christian Obrecht, deceased, was one of the most important factors in the business circles of Sauk City, and his life was an exemplification of the term "dignity of labor." The possibilities that America of- fers to her citizens he utilized, and, though he came to this country in limited circum- stances, he steadily and perseveringiy worked his way upward, leaving the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. Mr. Obrecht was born in Jenins, Canton Graubuenden, Switzerland, July 9, 1830, and had but a limited opportunity to secure an education, for at the age of fourteen years he was sent to the city of Rezeschow, Pn- land, to learn the confectioner's trade. After gaining a good practical knowledge of the business he returned to his native land in 1849, and the same year came to the United States, locating first at St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at his trade until coming to Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1855. Here he was first employed as a clerk in a store and later engaged in mercantile pursuits on his own account, opening a general store in 1857. He was soon firmly established in business, and the following year added to his growing business the lumber trade. This gave him an extended acquaintance and un- 410 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. der liis efficient management became tlie leading" iuniher mart in this section of the state, liis trade extending over a large amount of territory. He was quite popular among the people and very successful in business enterprises. He was also an im- portant factor in the development and up- building of the place. In Sauk City, Mr. Obrecht married Miss Caroline Hitzenmeier, who was born in Mengerhausen, Germany, November i6. 1835, and in 1845 came to the new world with her parents, Charles and Louisa (Goete) Hitzenmeier. They located in Sauk City, which at that time was a very small hamlet, and in those early days Mrs. Obrecht knew e\-ery dog and cat as well as every person in the village. Here she picked wild strawberries and in true pio- neer style spent her girlhood. Her father, who was a carpenter by trade, was the first contractor and builder in Sauk City and erected the first Catholic church there, but in later years he followed farming upon land for which he paid fourteen dollars per acre. He died here in 1888, and his wife passed away July 17, 1870. In his political affiliations Mr. Obrecht was a Republican, but cared nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office, pre- ferring to give his entire attention to his business interests. He met with marked success in his undertakings and accumulat- ed a large property, having secured real es- tate in various portions of the northwest. He united with the Masonic fraternity in 1862 and was connected with the same until his death, which occurred May 14, 1895. He was an ui)right, reliable business man, genial and pleasant in manner, and in his death the community realized that it liad lost one of its best and most valued citi- zens. His widow, who is a most estimable lady, still resides in the beautiful home he erected in Sauk Citv. MILES TOLCOTT ALVERSOX. IMiles Tolcott Alverson, cashier of the City Bank of Portage, Wisconsin, and one of the most influential and progressive of its citizens, has a wide reputation as a most ca- pable financier, and occupies a position of no little prominence in connection with political affairs. His life demonstrates what may be accomplished through energy, careful man- agement, keen foresight and the utilization (if the powers with which nature has en- dowed one, and the opportunities with which the times surround him. A native of New York, Mr. Alverson was born at Rodman, January 26, 1833, and is a son of Almanson and Sylenda (Merwin) Al- \-erson. The father was born in V^ermont, December 25, 1807, and died in Herman, New York, August 2q, 1879. He was the eldest son of John and Sarah (Frink) Alver- son, the former probably born in Spring- field, Massachusetts, February 11, 1780, and died in Jefferson county, New York, June 13, 1829. His father was David Alverson, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Nova Scotia about 1774; from there he removed to Poughkeepsie, New York, and later to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he mar- ried Miss Hannah Lester, the mother of John Alverson. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Pinckney, Lewis county, New York, October 12, 1809, a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca (Morris) Merwin, and was a representative in the seventh genera- tion of both families, her ancestors on the paternal side ha\'ing located in Milford, Connecticut, in 1645, and on the maternal side at Ro.xbury, Massach.usetts, prior to 1652. Miles T. Alverson obtained his primary education in the public and select schools of his native county, and also attended the Rod- man Academy. In October, 1854, he came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and for sev- a /? MRS. MILES T. ALYERSON. COMPENDIUM or BIOGRAPHY. 415 eral years eng^ag'ecl in teaching at Dekorra, Lowville and Poynette. After coming to this state he took a course of study at the Spencerian Business College, Milwaukee, (luring which time he also gave instruction in mathematics at that institution and private lessons in the same science. During his early residence in Columhia county he also gave more or less attention to agriculture and house carpentering. In January, 1867, he was appointed deputy county treasurer, and removed to Portage, where he has since made his home. He was elected treasurer in the fall of 1868, and after filling that office for two or three years was re-elected, serv- ing in all six years with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general pub- lic. At the end of that time he purchased A. B. Alden's abstract business, and, in partner- ship with Thomas Yule, did a general reales- tate, abstract, insurance and loan business for some time. Since 1881 Mr. Alverson has been cashier of the City Bank of Portage, and devotes most of his time to the transac- tion of its business. During this time, and mainly through his efforts, the bank has con- stantly maintained a position among the lead- ing financial institutions of Columbia county. On the 23d of March, 1859, Mr. Alver- son married Miss Melissa Ann Low, a daughter of Captain Jacob and Catherine (Morgan) Low, and a granddaughter of Captain Gideon Low, of whom extended no- tice appears elsewhere in this volume. The two sons born of this union are : Charles Lewis, who was born December 23, i860, and is now cashier of the State Bank of Med- ford, Wisconsin; and Harry Bartlett, who was born March 27, 1872, and is now super- intendent of the distribution of Niagara Falls electric power at Buffalo, New York. Both sons graduated from the Uni\crsity of Wisconsin. That Mr. Alverson enjoys the utmost confidence of his fellow citizens is exidenced by the fact that he has been repeatedly called u])on to till imijortant positions of public trust, among which may be enumerated the offices of township superintendent of schools and town clerk in Lowville; and chairman of the board of education, and chairman of the county board of supervisors since coming to Portage. He is now a member of the execu- tive council of the Wisconsin Bankers' As- sociation. He has always been active in so- cial life and in promoting any undertaking likely to advance the standard of public mor- als. He and his family are connected with the Presbyterian church, and among the fra- ternities with which he is identified irlay be mentioned the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, in all of which he has filled important offices. Mrs. Alverson is a charter member of Wau-Bun Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Morally and socially Mr. Alverson and his family are leaders in the society in which they live, and their exem- plary and Ijlameless lives are day by day proving excellent models lor the younger generations springing up around them in the community. Portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. Alverson grace pages in this volume, where they will be hailed with de- light by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances, and prove lasting monuments to the parts they have taken in the development and improvement of the part of the state in which they live. HOLVER HENDRICKSON. Holver Hendrickson, senior member of the mercantile firm of Hendrickson, Bout- well & Company, of Rio, is one of the well- known business men of Columbia county. He is progressive and energetic and has ac- quired a good trade and enviable reputation a^ a citizen. 416 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Our suljject was born in the town of Otsego, Columbia county, August 2, 1863, and was a son of Hoh'or and Emma (Samp- son) Hendrickson, who were natives of Halen, southern Norway. His parents came to the United States about 1845 ^""^ lived a short time at Wiiitewater, Wiscon- sin. From there they moved to Otsego township, Cokimbia county, and spent the balance of their lives there on a farm. The father died in 1891, aged sixty-eight years. He learned the carpenter's trade in Norway and followed the same in this country, and did all kinds of mechanical work, including cabinet work, wagon making, etc. The grandfather of our subject, Henry Hen- drickson, was also a mechanic and lived and died in Norway. Our subject's mother died about 1878, aged fifty-four years. Her father, Ambrose Sampson, was a carpenter and spent his life in Norway. Our subject was one of eight children, as follows : Henry, living on the homestead farm ; Am- brose, farming in Otsego township ; Holver, our subject; Hans, a painter in Rio; Anna, now Mrs. Ole Wilson, of Hazel Run, Min- nesota; Thuna, now Mrs. H. H. Lee, of Hazel Run, Minnesota; Emma, now Mrs. O. H. Thompson, of Rio; Mary, now Mrs. E. Bryant, of Randolph, Wisconsin. Holver Hendrickson attended the public school and at the age of nine years began for himself as a farm lal)orer. He later be- came a painter and paper hanger and in 1889 began clerking in a general store in Rio, where he continued for eight years. In 1897 the firm of Hendrickson & Miles purchased a stock of goods and engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1898 the present firm of Hendrickson, Boutwell & Company was organized. They occupy a large double store and carry an extensi\e stock of gen- eral merchandise. Our subject was married in 1894 to Anna Boutwell, daughter of Peter and Anna Boutwell, of Otsego township. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson are the parents of two children, who are named, respectively, Irene Arabella, aged three years; and Beulah, aged ten months. Mr. Hendrickson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. He is a Republican in political faith, but is not an active partisan. SIMON BOUTWELL. As an intelligent and enterprising agri- culturist this gentleman is well known to the people of Columbia county and sur- rounding country. He is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, and has a fine es- tate in Otsego township. Mr. Boutwell was born in the town of Otsego, February 2, 1870, and was a son of Peter and Anna (Jellum) Boutwell, who were natives of Lee, Norway. The father left home at the age of seventeen years and came to the United States about 1850, set- tling for a time in Dane county, Wiscon- sin. About two years later he entered claim to land in section 21, in Otsego township, Columbia county, and Iiought other land from time to time until he owned two hundred and sixty-five acres of tillable land. He began with limited means, but acquired a well improved estate. He died December 8, 1893, aged sixty-one years and eight months. He was interested in breeding Morgan horses, and the "Bout- well stock" was well known among farm- ers and horsemen of the county. He op- erated a threshing machine for thirty years and was progressive and enterprising. He was one of the original members of the Lu- theran church of Bonnett Prairie. Our subject's mother was born at Jellum. near Bergen, Norway, anjl was a daughter of Simon Jellum, who came to the United COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 'ill States with Mr. Boutwell and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, near Utica, where he died at tlie a^e of ninety years. His widow, Aase Jelkim, went to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where siie died at the age of about ninety years. Our subject was one of ten ciiildren, all of whom are living and are as follows : Butler, residing near Aberdeen, South Dakota ; Atley, near Aber- deen, South Dakota; Rhoda, now Mrs. G. O. Johnson, of Lowville township; Chris- tian, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Rosa, now Mrs. L. Otterness, residing near Kenyon, Minnesota; Simon, our subject; Bertha, re- siding at home; Anna, now Mrs. Holvor Hendrickson, of Rio ; John, a member of the firm of Hendrickson, Bciutwell & Com- pany, of Rio; and Temon, residing at home. Simon Boutwell received a good educa- tion and has always resided on the home- stead farm. He began the cultivation of tobacco at the age of twenty-one, and after his father's death assumed charge of the place. He and his father were the first farmers in Columbia county to engage in tobacco culture, getting the plants some forty miles distant from their home. He now raises ten to thirteen acres of tobacco annually, and has a shed one hundred and twelve feet long, and contemplates building another equally as large. On the farm he has a small village of buildings and op- erates more or less of the macliinery of the place by steam power. He engages in horse breeding and has some excellent stock, in- cluding a thoroughbred French Percheron mare and a French Coach stallion, "Qui- beron," in which he owns a half-interest. He also breeds Scotch shorthorn cattle on the farm and has about fifty grades, and uses thoroughbred sires exclusively. He is a partner of the mercantile firm of Hendrick- son, Boutwell & Company at Rio. He is an excellent judge of tobacco in the leaf aiid has been employed for the last two seasons by a tobacco dealer in handling the crop in his locality. Mr. Boutwell is a member of the Lu- theran church, and also Mt. Pleasant Camp, No. 1 194, Modern Woodmen of America. In political principle he is a Republican and is firm in his convictions and highly respect- ed and esteemed by those among whom he has spent his career. JOHN BOUTWELL. John Boutwell, of the mercantile firm of Hendrickson, Boutwell & Company, of Rio, is one of the rapidly rising young men of Columbia county. He was born in Otsego township, November 7, 1877, and is a son of Peter and Anna (Jellum) Boutwell, who were natives of Lee, Norway. The parents of our subject came to America about i8£;o and settled in Colum- bia county, and the father acquired a valu- able farm in Otsego township. He bought and sold more or less real estate, and also dealt in horses and live stock, and operated a threshing machine for some years. He v.'as a member of the Lutheran church. The mother now resides on the homestead farm in Otsego township, aged o\-er sixty years. John Boutwell was reared on the home farm and attended the public school, and also Stoughton Academy, where he pur- sued a course in commercial law. He be- came a clerk in the store of Hendrickson & Miles, at Rio, in 1896, and went rapidly to the front, and in September, 1898, became a partner in the present firm of Hendrickson, Boutwell & Company. Mr. Boutwell is possessed of a charac- ter of the highest integrity, and is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church of 418 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Otsego township. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of .America. Po- hticahy he is a RepubHcan, but takes little interest in party affairs and does not seek public preferment. EDWARD NELSON MARSH. Prominent among the energetic, enter- prising and progressive citizens of Bara- boo, W^isconsin, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has been actively identified with the development and prosperity of the state, and his connection Avith various business enterprises and in- dustries has been of decided advantage to this section, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. Mr. Marsh was born in Lysander, near Baldwinsville, Onondaga county, New York, June i6, 1833, a son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Palmeter) Marsh. All repre- sentatives of the Marsh family in this coun- try are supposed to be descendants of two or three brothers who came from England in the early days of Massachusetts colony and settled in Braintree. Joshua Marsh, grandfather of our subject, was born at that place in 1745, and in early life moved to Nova Scotia, where he married Mar- garet Corbet, who was born in Plymouth, ]\Iassachusetts, of Scotch ancestry. He was a farmer and fisherman by occupation.' He died at the age of sixty years, his death being caused by an accident. His wife reached the extreme age of one hundred and three years and three months and died at Londonderry, Nova Scotia. The names and dates of birth of their children were as follows: Isabel, December 6, 1771 : Sarah, September 26, 1773; Peleg, July 8, 1775; Elizabeth, August 29, 1777: Joshua, August 5, 1779; John, May 24, 1781 ; Sam- uel, April 9, 1784; Eleanor, May 2, 1787: Wilson, April 21, 1789; Alexander, April 21, 1791 ; and Charles, April 23, 1793. Joshua Marsh, Jr., father of our sub- ject, was born in Economy, Nova Scotia, and in 183 1 moved to Onondaga county, New York. In 1843 he went to Lake county, Illinois, and in 1862 came to Bara- boo, Wisconsin, where he died the follow- ing year, at the age of eighty-four. His wife had died near Antioch, in Lake county, Illinois, in 1843, <^t the age of fifty-five years. She was born in Cornwallis, No\'a Scotia, and her parents were from the High- lands of Scotland. The subject of this sketch is the youngest in a family of eleven children, the others being as follows : John Palmeter, born November 3, 1808, was liv- ing in Oregon when last heard of; Peleg, born November 23, 1810, died in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in November, 1896; Alexander, born April 23, 1813, is a resident of Delton, Sauk county; Margaret, born November 3, 1815, married David Calkins and died in 1858; Susan, born March 2Ti, 1818, mar- ried David Kimball and died in 1896; Mary, born August 23, 1820, married Nathan Pad- dock and died in 1896; Lavinia, born Feb- ruary, 1823, married first William Pratt, and second Jacob Kline; Joshua, born July 20, 1823, is now living in California; Ann Chandler, born Juh' 11, 1827, now deceased, was the wife of George Paddock, of Bara- boo; and Abigail, born May 4, 1830, is the widow of Henry Willard, and resides in Del- ton, Sauk county. Edward N. Marsh, of this sketch, first came to Baraboo in 1849 o" ^ hunting trip, and three years later located here, being em- ployed in the lumber woods and mills of this locality until 18^5. He then turned his attention to daguerreotype and ambrotype work, and the introduction of photography a few }-ears later caused him to lose about si.x hundretl dollars in\'ested in daguerreo- type plates, etc. He was then interested in COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 419 photography until the Civil war broke out. The next day after the first call for Wiscon- sin troops, April i6, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, First Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, under Captain George E. Bryant. Although he only enlisted for three months, he served four months under General Pat- terson in Maryland and Virginia, taking part in the engagement at Falling Water. After his discharge he helped recruit several W'isconsin regiments, and was offered com- missions in both the Twenty-third and Sixth Infantry, but could not accept either owing to physical disability. In 186 J he accom- panied eight hundred recruits to Leaven- worth, Kansas, there having been recent raids by Quantrell and others in that state, and from there he proceeded to Fort Scott, where he was attacked by hemorrhage and treated by an Indian doctor, who belonged to a company of Winnebagoes that had en- listed in Wisconsin. Upon his recovery he was detailed for service in the commissary department, but owing to failing health he was discharged in 1864. In 1865 Mr. Marsh built the Minniwa- ken House, the first hotel at Devil's Lake, and though at that time the nearest railroad station was at Kilbourn, he did a good busi- ness until 1868, when he sold out. He af- terward conducted hotels in Baraboo and Mauston, Wisconsin, and initiated another summer resort at Elkhart, Wisconsin. He took an active part in securing the construc- tion of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road through Baraboo, from which event the tc^wn dates its growth and development. He was engaged in the hotel business in Mil- waukee for a time, but owing to the panic of 1873 that enterprise and the one at Elkhart were not financial successes. He then went to Colorado and conducted hotels at Fair Play and South Park with good success for two years. The following three years were spent in Forestburg, South Dakota, where he engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale, and since 1890 has given his attention to the real-estate business in Bara- boo, Wisconsin, opening the first office of the kind in the place, and handling city and farm property, together with a general loan and insurance business. Since the spring of 1897 he has also been engaged in devel- oping a summer resort at Lock Mirror Park, Sauk county, in connection with other par- ties, and has constructed a fine trout pond and made other improvements. This place is surely destined to become one of the most popular resorts in Wisconsin. Mr. Marsh is a far-sighted, capable business man, and in his undertakings has met with well-de- served success. On the 1st of September, 1855, Mr, Marsh was united in marriage with Miss May A. Blake, a native of Devonshire, Eng- land, who in 1849 came to Baraboo with her parents, Philip and Mary (May) Blake. They were three weeks on a sailing vessel in coming from Liverpool to New York. Mr. Blake died in Lemonweir, Wisconsin, in April, 1850, and his wife passed away in Baraboo, October 29, 1895, aged eighty- three years. Our subject and his wife have two daughters : Efiie May, now the wife of F. W. Greenleaf, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sm ; and Mabel A., wife of C. B. Dutcher, of Baraboo. Fraternally Mr. Marsh is iden- tified with the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas in i860, but since the war has been a st:mch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. WILLIAM J. FOAT. William J. Foat, a representative and prominent farmer of Jackson township, Adams county, Wisconsin, is a veteran of 420 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the Ci\il war and bears an honorable record for brave service in tlie cause of freedom and union, and in the paths of peace he has also won an enviable reputation through the sterling c|ualities which go to the making of a good citizen. Mr. Foat was born in Sullivan, iladison county, New York, September 24, 1842, a son of Samuel and Maria J. (Becker) Foat. The father, a native of Kent countv, Eng- land, emigrated to America in 1833, 'i'''*^ located in Sullivan county. New York, where he successfully engaged in farming until 1843. He died in Canada in 1849. The maternal grandfather of our subject was of Holland descent, and was one of the early settlers of the Mohawk Flats. The mother died June 30, 1875. When our subject was a year old he was taken by his parents to Canada, where he was reared. His opportunities for obtaining an education were very meager, as he was only able to attend school for about three months, but being naturally bright and in- telligent he has become a well-informed man through his own unaided efforts. Leaving his home in Canada at the age of seventeen years, he came to Wisconsin, traveling most of the distance on foot, and he located first in Racine, but afterward removed to He- bron township, Jefferson county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some time. After his marriage he bought a small farm in that comity, which he successfully operated until 1885, when he came to Adams county and purchased eighty acres in Jack- son township. At that time it was nearly all wild land, but he has placed fifty-five acres under the plow and erected good build- ings, and made other improvements upon the place, which add to its value and attract- ive appearance. The success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own perseverance, good management and untir- insr labor. During the Civil war Mr. Foat enlisted, August 21, 1862, in Company F, Twenty- second ^\'isconsin Volunteer Infantry, and being disabled at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, he was discharged February i, 1863. In 1864 he tried to re-enlist, but was not accepted on account of disability. As a Democrat he takes an active interest in po- litical aft'airs, but has never sought office. He is \ery much interested in educational matters, and his influence is always exerted in behalf of good schools and competent teachers. On September 23, 1871, Mr. Foat mar- ried Miss Olive L. Elmendorf, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Youmans) Elmendorf, who were born in New York, and were of Holland descent. Her father was born March 7, 1792, and died at the advanced age of ninety-four years, living under the ad- n-iinistration of every president of the United States with the exception of Harrison and McKinley. He was a soldier of the war of 1 81 2, being stationed on Staten Island to help guard New York city. Our subject and his wife have two children : John S., born September 29, 1872, and Emery S., born April 26, 1878. The younger son at- tended the common schools and now assists his father in the operation of the home farm. John S. Foat, the older son, after at- tending the district schools, entered Ripon College, in September, 1892, and pursued a scientific course, graduating with the de- gree of A. M., in June, 1899. He was an earnest worker, and one of the most popu- lar students of that institution, being busi- ness manager of the "College Days;" presi- dent of the ^olian Society, vice-president of the College Oratorical Union, president of the graduating class and president of the Athletic Society. He was one of the best debaters in the college. Before completing the course he laid aside his text-books to enter the service of his country in her war COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 421 with Spain, enlisting May 12, 1898, in Com- pany D, Second Wisconsin Voluuteer In- fantry. He was made corporal in his com- pany, and was afterward promoted to the rank of sergeant. After a month spent at Camp Harvey, he went with his command to Camp Thomas, Georgia, and two months later sailed with the regiment for Porto Rico, where they landed July 28, 1898. He was in the engagement at Coamo, August 9, and was a valiant and fearless soldier. He reached home, September 10, much reduced in flesh, and was mustered out November 14, 1898. On the 1st of October, 1899, he en- tered Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he expects to graduate in June, 1902, and then engage in the practice of medicine. JOHN GARDENER GRIFFIN. John Gardener Grifiin, of Courtland, Co- lumbia county, was born October 30, 181 5, in East Haddam, Middlesex county, Con- necticut, and was the oldest son of Nathan and Sarah Barber (Gallup) Griffin. His paternal grandfather was John Griffin, and his great-grandfather bore the name of Nathan. Nathan Griffin was born in Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, and moved to the town of East Haddam, and pur- chased land there some time in the early years of the seventeenth century. This land remained in the family possession through four generations, and was still held about fifty years ago by descendants of this early Nathan Griffin. On this farm were born our subject, his father, his grandfather, and here was also born the oldest daughter of John Gardener Griffin, Kate. The Griffins have always been farmers, though occasion- ally would be found one who would depart from family traditions and engage in trade or follow a profession. Such was the career of the father of our subject. At twenty-six vears of age he engaged in mercantile pur- suits at East Haddam, and continued in that line until he came to Wisconsin in 1845. He was the father of twelve children: John G. ; Sarah Ann, now Mrs. Julius C. Will- iams ; Edwin B. ; Betsy B. ; Henry C. ; Al- bert Morgan ; C?rlos ; Phoebe ; Wallace Fred- erick ; George Cone ; Theodore ; and one who died in infancy. There is a family tradition to the effect that about the beginning of the seventeenth century three brothers emi- grated to this country from Wales and set- tled in various parts of this country. One brother located in Boston; another on Long Island, and the third in South Carolina. The Griffins of this history belong to the Long Island branch of the family. Nathan Grif- fin, the father of the subject of this sketch, and a part of his family, came west in 1845, and purchased land from a previous settler in this county. It was described as the southwest quarter of section 15, township 12, range 12 east, and on this land he lived until his death in 1862, when he was over seventy-two years old. Hulda Cone, the great-grandmother of our subject, was the oldest daughter of George Cone by his first wife. The mater- nal grandparents of our subject, Gardener and Betsy Barber Gallup, were both born in Groton, New London county, and followed farming all their lives. John Gardener Griffin, being the oldest son of his parents, was named after both his grandparents. He passed his youth and early manhood in Connecticut, and was there married. He did not come west until 1857. He came to his father's farm in this county that year, bringing his own family with him, and remained with his parents as long as they lived. His mother lived until Jan- uary 2, 1 88 1, surviving her husband many years. After her death our subject bought out the interests of the other heirs, and is 42-2 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. now the sole owner of the old homestead, which, with other lands added to it, now constitutes a valuable farm of three hun- dred and eighty acres. It is cultivated in the most modern and enlightened fashion, and is catalogued among the model farms of the county. Mr. Griffin and Miss Ursula Mack were married in Connecticut. Her parents were Romancey and Mehitable (Knowles) Mack, and her father was in early life the fore- man of a granite quarry, Ixit later became a farmer. She is the grantldaughter of Heze- kiah Mack, a veteran of the Revolution. Her union with Mr. Griffin was lilessed by the birth of three daughters : Kate, who died June 12, 1882, when she was thirty- seven years old; Jane, the wife of Hiram Gilmore, and living in Cambria ; Edith, who married George Ketchum, and with her hus- band is living on the farm. Mr. J. G. Griffin is a man of much more than the ordinary education. He attended a select school at East Haddam, later took a course at the Troy Conference Academy, at West Poultney, Vermont, and the Wes- ley Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. When he was twenty-one he left school and applied himself to his lifework, the occupa- tion of a farmer. When he was seventeen he taught winter school, and from that time has always been associated with educational and public affairs. While still a young man he was made superintendent of schools, and when the law provided for a board of school commissioners he was named on the board among the very first to receive that honor. While in Connecticut he was twice a can- didate for the legislature on the Free Soil ticket, and once received within five votes of a majority of all cast. He had been a Democrat, having voted for Martin Van Buren in 1848, but when the parties divided on the issue of slavery he at once took his place with the party of freedom. He cast his first Republican vote for John C. Fre- mont, and since that time has been a stead- fast supporter of the party. Here in Wis- consin he has served about twenty-five years as a justice of the peace, and represented his district in the legislature of 1875 and 1876. He has frequently served on the jury, more frequently perhaps than any other man in the county. He became a Methodist when only fifteen years of age, and his life has been an offering on the altar of his faith. Through a long and active life he has been an earnest and faithful worker in the com- munion he so early selected, and it has hon- ored him in every way. He has lived to a grand old age, and leaves his posterity the inheritance of a noble name and the memo- ries of a useful life. KENNEDY SCOTT. Kennedy Scott is one of the most pub- lic-spirited and influential citizens of Rio, Columbia county, and has been identified with many efforts to advance the moral and material interests of the village and the county. He was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, the i6th day of Novem- ber, 1842, and is a son of William and Jane (Kennedy) Scott, both natives of county Tyrone, Ireland. His father came to this country in 1840 and located at War- ren, his mother following a year later. In the spring of 1850 the family came to Wis- consin, and settled in the town of Spring- vale, Columbia county, where the father bought wild land for a farm at three dollars and fifty cents an acre. He died on his farm in 1877 at the age of seventy-four. He was justice of the peace for twenty years in Springvale, though he was never an active politician. He was one of the founders of the local Congregational church with which KEHHEEY SCOTT. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAniY. 425 he and his wife were always identified. His father, Andrew Scott, hved and died on -x farm in county Tyrone, Ireland. Mrs. Jane Scott died in Rio in 1882 at the age of sev- enty-seven. Her father. William Kennedy, was a soldier in the British army, and died in tlie service. She was reared hy an uncle, Sanuicl McKenna. She was the mother of ten children, six of whom were born in Ire- land : Samuel died in Springvale, aged sev- enty years; Alary Jane is the wife of Charles Dowd, and has livetl in Wyocena township, Columbia county, on the same farm since 1848: \\'illiam is at Ellendale, North Da- kota: Joseph, Staceyville, Iowa; John, El- lendale, North Dakota; James, Oakes, North Dakota ; Kennedy, the subject of this arti- cle; Lydia Ann, Mrs. James H. Palmer, died in 1863, at the age of nineteen years; Har- riet, Mrs. David Coff, Springvale township; Merrilla, Mrs. H. W. Wisner, Knapp, Wis- consin. Kennedy Scott came to Columbia county with his parents in 1850, and his home has been in or near the village of Rio for the last fifty years. There are not half a dozen peo- ple living in the community who were here when he came. After he had completed his studies in the district school he went to She- boygan and spent a year in the city school, and then took the normal course at the Fox Lake Female College. He began to teacli when nineteen years old, and had a salary of eighteen dollars a month, and boarded him- self. As a teacher he develoi)ed nuich abil- ity, and served successfully as principal at Poynette, Cambria, Wyocena and Rio. In August, 1 874, he was appointed countysuper- intendent of schools to fill a vacancy, and was elected three times for the same position, making five years that he served the people in that responsible position. In the spring of 1880 he engaged in farming on a place about one mile south of Rio, a farm he still owns. It is a quarter-section, and he has made it one of the model farms of the county. He has put up first class buildings, and brought every acre under a high state of cultivation. For many years he made a specialty of potato culture and the breeding of Poland China swine. He has also dealt extensively in po- tatoes, shipping from different points throughout the county for a numlier of years. Since Noveml:er, 1S99, he has made his home in the village, where he has erected a fine modern residence. Mr. Scott has been twice married. His first wife was Miss .\nnie Buchanan, and they were married October 3, 1867. Her father, Daniel Buchanan, is now living in Ritzville, Washington. He was a member of the constitutional convention of that state. The lady was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and died March 3, 1880, at the age of forty-two years and five days. She was a member of the Congregational church, and left one son ami four daughters : Daniel A. is a farmer at Ritzville, Washington, and owns over one thousantl acres of farm land near that city; Lydia Ann, Mrs. F. M. Warner, Pingree, North Dakota; Jessie M., Mrs. F. H. Walker, of Rio; Margaret and Anna M. are living at home. All have had more or less experience in teaching except the young- est. Mr. Scott was married a second time, March 24, 1891, Miss Eleanor Evans be- coming his wife. She is a daughter of the Rev. Reese an.d Elizabeth (Jones) Evans, of Cambria, and was born at Mt. Pleasant, Racine county, Wisconsin. Her father was a clergyman of the Welsh Calvinistic Meth- odist church, and was a speaker and pastor of more than usual ability. When a young man he enjoyed a high reputation as a tem- perance speaker. He was born in Cardi- ganshire, Wales, and came to this country in 1842, settling first in Racine county. He was ordained in 1852, and spent the next four years as pastor of what was then the only Welsh Methodist church in Chicago. 426 COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY. In 1857 he came to Cambria, and was pastor of a church in that village for twen- ty-two years. He went to Oxford, Iowa, to organize a synod, and died there October 23. 1882, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a man of many excellent traits, and had an inexhaustil;)le fund of humor. It is told of him that soon after his ordination he drove to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, to attend a church conference, and it was expected of him that he should take charge of a certain service. On his arrival he met some other ministers, who, taking him for a teamster, and hearing that he was from Racine, began to ask him about the rising young clergy- man, Reese Evans. He answered them ac- cording to the spirit of the opportunity, and needless to say, they were much surprised to see him in the pulpit at the appointed time. He was married October 4, 1843, to Eliza- beth Jones, and became the father of two sons and five daughters. His wife was born in Caernavonshire, Wales, and died in Cam- bria, \\'isconsin, in 1893, when over seventy-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy Scott are both in- timately associated with the Rio Congrega- tional church. He united v/ith the society in 1869, and has been a deacon since 1877, suc- ceeding his father, who had acted in that ca- pacity many years. He has also been a trustee of the church since that year, and for a time was the clerk of the society. Mrs. Scott !:as been clerk since 1892, and is now solicitor and treasurer. Mr. Scott is a Re- publ can and was chairman and clerk of Low- ville township. He has been justice of the peace twelve years, and is a familiar figure at almost all political gatherings. Since 1 86 1 he has been a member of the Independ- ent Order of Good Templars, and was grand marshal of the state grand lodge in 1867. Mrs. Scott and two daughters are also mem- bers of the Rio lodge. Mr. Scott united with the Odd Fellows in 1890, and has filled all the chairs in the Rio lodge. He is trus- tee and secretary at the present time of the local lodge. He is a Modern Woodman, and his wife and a daughter belong to the Royal Neighbors, where both are filling offi- cial positions. As a representative pioneer, and one of the county's prominent and influent'al cit- izens, a portrait of Mr. Scott is properly shown on a page of this volume. A life time spent in the county, together with the l)lame- less life and sterling integrity of Mr. Scott, have gained him the esteem and respect of all in the community and they will prize this work the more that it contains the likeness of their old time friend. THOMAS ROBERT HASTINGS, M. D., Oph. D. The medical fraternity has few men among its younger members who ha\'e at- tained the degree of success possessed by the gentleman above named. He has been a practitioner comparatively few years, but his skillful management of cases entrusted to his care, and his progressive nature have gained him an excellent practice and as- sured his future. He is a man of deep thought and intelligence, and does not cease his studies with the beginning of his prac- tice, but is perfecting himself in all of the better methods known to the profession, and the people in the vicinity of Lime Ridge, Sauk county, know him as a faithful physi- cian who stands at the head of his profes- sion. Our subject was born in New Jerusalem, New Brunswick, February 17, 1859, and was the son of Thomas and Emily (Lourie) FTastings, who are now residents of Massa- chusetts. His paternal grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Gilanders) Hastings, were COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 427 natives of Birmin?-ham, England, and tlie grandfather was a mnsic teacher and tailur. He emigrated to a farm in New Brunswick, about 1825, where the father of our subject also engaged in farming. Emily Hastings, the mother of our subject, was born in New Brunswick, and was a daughter of Robert and Mary Ann (Rennick) Lourie. Her father was a Scotchman, wlio went from Argyle to Armagh, Ireland, where he mar- ried and soon after removed to New Bruns- wick, in 1825. Thomas R. Hastings as a youth had in- dependent ideas, and, although his parents intended to fit him for commercial life, he decided to follow a professional career. Af- ter attaining his majority he went to Boston, and the following year to Ridgeway, Penn- sylvania, where he spent four years in the study of medicine, and a part of the time he spent in studying with his brother. Dr. J. W". Hastings, of New Georgetown, Ohio. Returning to Boston he studied architecture at Wells Memorial Institute, and was awarded some high commendations for ex- cellent work in that line, but the medical profession was his aim, and he accordingly went to Chicago and entered the Physio- IMedical College, graduating with the class of 1897. In April of that year he located at Lime Ridge, where he has continued to practice with ever increasing patronage. He has taken a course at the McCormick 0]iti- cal College, of Chicago, and gives special attention to treatment of the eye. He car- ries his own dispensary, and his residence and office erected in 1899 is one of the finest buildings in the village of Lime Ridge. Our subject was married July 16, 1890, to Christina Douglas, daughter of Robert and Charlotte Douglas, at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Hastings was born in New Je- rusalem, New Brunswick, where her parents still reside. Three children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hast- ings, named as follows : Ima Columbia, Delia Josephine and Charlotte Emily. Air. Hastings is a member of Forest Lodge, No. 106, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Lime Ridge, and also the Modern Wood- men of America. He is well known as a physician, and holds membership in the Illi- nois Physio-Medical Society. He is inde- pendent in political views. EMMONS TAYLOR, Deceased. This gentleman was for many years one of the most distinguished members of the bar of Columbia county, and one of the most exemplary and honored citizens. He was born in Rupert, Bennington county, Ver- mont, June 26, 1828, and died at Portage, Wisconsin, April 13, 1874. For a sketch of his jjarents see the bi- ography of his brother, Joseph B. Taylor. At the age of fifteen years our subject en- tered Williams College and graduated there four years later. He read law in the office of J. C. Hopkins, of Granville, New York, who was later United States judge for' the western district of \Msconsin. Our sub- ject was admitted to the liar in New York, and came to Portage, Wisconsin, in 1857. He became a partner of L. S. Dixon, who afterward liecame chief justice of ^Viscon- sin. In his latter years our subject was a partner of his brother, Hon. James B. Tay- lor, who at his death was serving as county judge of Columbia county. In 1868 Em- mons Taylor was elected district attorney of Columbia county, and served six years in that capacity. Mrs. Taylor passed away aljout a year prior to her husbaml. their only child dying a few months before the mother. In profes- sional and pri\ate life Mr. Taylor won manv lasting friends. The following quo- 428 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. tations from some of the eulogies pro- nounced upon his character by those who knew him well are best descriptive of his life. "Xature was bountiful in her gifts to Mr. Taylor. She ga\e him so full a love of justice that it was the guiding star of all his actions. She bestowed on him the gift of oratory, and an intellect of no common power, accompanied liy an ambition that se- cured their careful and generous culture. Victory never elated him so as to make him forget the amenities of the profession or the courtesy due to the losing party, nor did defeat e\'er make him unjust to the court, to the jury, or to an opposing counsel. In short, his bearing and conduct, imder all circumstances, were so commendable that tlie man seemed greater than the lawyer." "His great abilities and acquirements placed him in the very front rank of all his profes- sion. As an advocate he had few superiors, if any, at the l)ar." "In social life he was most eminently fitted to both ornament and in- fluence society, and his friendships were well chosen, most intimate, strong and last- ing. * * * He was so attached to the scenes, associations and labors of his home, that it was with great reluctance and effort that he was e\'er induced to go al)road and enlarge the sphere of his acquaintance, in- fluence and professional practice and tri- umphs. It was owing to these local and friendly attachments, more than to anything else, that his appreciation and his fame were not as great throughout the country as in his own state and in the county of Colum- bia." Mr. Taylor was very prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being at the time of his death right eminent grand commander of the state for the Knights Templar. Mem- bers of the order came in special trans from most of the principal cities of the state to attend the funeral services, nearly one hun- dred members attending from Milwaukee alone. Among those who participated in the ceremonies were : Henry L. Palmer, past grand master K. T. of the U. S. ; Past Grand Commander Alvin B. Alden ; Past Grand Commander A. V. H. Carpenter, and several justices of the supreme court of Wisconsin, and other prominent members of the bar. April 30, 1 86 1, the day previous to the departure of the Portage Light Guard for the field, Mr. Taylor presented them with a banner on behalf of the ladies of Portage, on which occasion he delivered a patriotic address which compares favorably with the ablest efforts of Patrick Henry or James Otis. A few lines are quoted herewith : 'The important, the momentous hour has come which must determine whether the best government on earth shall stand or fall. Everything is at stake and at stake now. Honor, Interest and Duty, with one united voice, call on us for a vigorous and manly exertion. If we should fail, then indeed, has the decree of Omnipotence gone forth that freedom shall find no permanent rest- ing place on earth. Then shall we have tasted its sweets only to make more bitter the cup of our wretchedness, then shall Op- pression rivet anew her chains, while Liber- ty, pouring out her tears o\'er a land mi- worthy of her blessing, shall spread her wings and speed her final flight to her native heavens." GEORGE L. SWARTZ. George L. Swartz, proprietor and pub- lisher of the "Press," of Poynette, has lieen a resident of Columbia county for over a decade of years, and is one of the ablest editors of that region. He is also connect- ed with other business interests, and is one of the wide-awake men of the city, and en- joys the respect of his fellow men. Mr. Swartz was born at Newtown, Penn- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 429 sylvania, August 5, 1856, and is a son of D. L. and Frances (Phillips) Swartz. His father was born in Newtown, in 1831, and was a blacksmith liy trade. He served in the Civil war and enlisted in one of the first regiments to enter the service. He went to the front as a member of Company C, Third Regiment, known as Governor Curtin Re- serve Corps, and served about fourteen months, when he was discharged at Harri- son's Landing on account of disability. The mother of our suliject was born in 1830. and his parents came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1877. and are now residents of Co- lumbia county. Six children were born to them, three of whom are now living, as follows: George L., uur subject; D. L., a resident of Columbia county; and W. G., now residing in the state of Washington. The subject of this review received his education in Pennsylvania, and engaged to some extent in farming, antl learned his trade in the "Xewtown Enterprise" office. He came to Wisconsin in 1877, and after a Slav of two years returned to his Pennsyl- vania home. He again came to this state in November, 1889, and purchased the pa- per which he now owns and edits. It is a weekly sheet, published Friday, and is widely circulated. It is spicy, and is con- sidered among the best of the newspaper ex- changes, and under Mr. Swartz' owner- ship is gaining ground steadily. Our sub- ject was admitted to the bar of Columbia county December 5, 1899, and is also inter- ested in the insurance business,, and is netary public and city clerk. He joined the Pennsylvania State Miltia, and was first corporal of Company K, Sixteenth Regi- ment, and during the riots in 1877 was with his regiment when it assisted in quelling the disturbance. Mr. Swartz was married in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. December j8. 1887, to Jdiss Mary Drake, a native of Wisconsin, who was born in Columlxa county. April 21. 1857. One son and one daughter have been born to ^Nlr. and ^^Irs. Swartz: Davis Watson, born Xovemlier 8. I888: and Hanna, born August 29, 1890. Our sub- ject is prominent in local affairs. He has passed all the chairs in the Indepeiident Order of Odd Fellows, both of the subor- dinate and encampment branches, and is now secretary of Poynette Lodge, No. 173, A. F. & A. M. He is a member and recording steward of the Methodist church. He is a gentleman of the highest character. In po- litical sentiment he is a Republican and stands firmly for his convictions. He advo- cates progression, and in all matters pertain- ing to the welfare of his county and state will be found on the side of right and jus- tice. He performs his duties to his com- munity with fidelity, and is one of the in- fluential citizens of the village of Poynette. JOHN BARTON, Sr. John Barton, Sr., whose pleasant and inviting home has been found for many years on section 15, tow^nship of Colburn, has long been known as one of the fore- most citizens of Adams county. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, four miles east of Zanesville, September 25, 181S, and the earlier oortion of his life was spent in his native state. In the course of the years he has applied his hand to many labors, and prospered in all ; and now as the sunset of life draws near, he can look back with something like satisfaction over his eighty }"ears of honorable and successful labors. Mr. Barton was married to Mary E. Erelsford, at \\'est Alexander, Pennsyl- vania, April 7, 1836, and spent the next seventeen years of his life in farming in ^Morgan countv, Ohio. He had a coal mine 430 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. on his land, which lie wnri-ced winters; and also built a saw-mill, which he operated some five years. In 1857 he transferred himself and all his belongings and appur- tenances to .\dams ■ county, Wisconsin, v/here the year before he had bought eight hundred acres of the government. Of this extensive tract he now holds four hundred acres, and with assiduous tillage has con- verted it into a model Wisconsin farm. He lives in a handsome stone house, and has ample and sufficient outlniildings of every kind and character. Mr. Barton bought an interest in a water power and saw-nfiU on the big Roacha-Cree creek, and built a grist-mill at that place in 1863. He carried on these en- terprises for some five years, when he sold out to John Comer and returned to his Adams county farm, where he has main- tained his home to the present time. Here he has taken much interest in st(->ck raising, and every year puts up a vast amount of hay, not only for use, but for sale. He brought clover seed with him from Ohio, and it was the first e\er sowed on Indian land north of the Fox ri\-er. He has raised it continuously, since that time, and thinks very highly of it as a stock food. He baled and shipped to Steven's Point the first bale of hay ever put up and sent from Adams county. In the season he has frequently cut a hundred tons of tame hay. and as much more of wild from his place. In his time Mr. Barton has filled many important local positions, though he has set his face against ofiice seeking. He was county commissioner in 1864, and has filled the various town offices in succession. He was chairman of the town board manv years and has exercised a marked infiuence on town and county affairs. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, and his name is inscribed on the charter of ^^'automa lodge. Later he was transferred to Edwards Lodee at Hancock. ' He is much re\'ered in the mystic circles, and for years be was an effi- cient and hard-working member of the or- der. He is now a Republican, and in early life was a Whig. He voted for General Harrison in 1840 and has many interesting memories of politics in those early days. John Barton, the father of the subject of this article, was born in eastern Virginia, where he married Frances Anderson in 1816. They removed soon after their wed- ding to Ohio, where they spent their lives in farming. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and wtis in the battle of Bladens- burg. He was at Washington when the British looted the capitol. Levi Barton, the grandfather of John, was born in eastern Virginia, and was a representative farmer and a leading spirit in the Revolutionary struggle. He was one of the lirst men to take up arms against the English, and one of the last to put them tlown. He served throughout the war with distinction, and he was long a leading character In his own community. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are the parents of twenty children, eight of whom are now living: Nancy Jane, Margaret Ann, Hayes, Andrew, Laura, Charles Edward, Ihomas and John, Jr. They had two sons in the Civil war, William F. and Hayes. John, Jr., is in the Philippines. BREMXER BROS. Bremner Bros., proprietors of the Plant- ers' Hotel at Portage, are recognized as being among the most popular, enterprising and progressive pul)lic caterers in the state of Wisconsin. Their house is constantly filled with respectable ladies and gentlemen who have only words of praise and approval for the management of the estal^lishment COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 431 and wlio are continually extending- its repu- latinn thi-dughnut the Cduntry. In a com- paratively short period of time these two g-entlemen have demonstrated the practica- bility of profitably conducting a first-class hotel at popular prices. This has been ac- complished in the face of sharp competition on the part of experienced hotel men and without the aid of a bar or other auxiliaries, which are often considered necessary in order to carry on a public house at a profit. The secret of their success lies in furnish- ing clean, comfortable accommodations antl according courteous treatment to their guests at all times, i he house was erectetl in 1897 at an expense of o\'er fourteen thousand dollars, is a suljstantial, three- story brick l.]uildmg, eciuipped with all modern con\"enienc^s and conducted in the most respectable and business-like manner. George Henry Bremner, the senior part- ner of the firm, was born in the town of BufYalo, Marquette county, Wisconsin, De- cember ij, 1864. His father, John Brem- ner, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and came with his parents to America when a boy of tweKe years. The family located near Racine, Wiscunsin, in 1844, and, two years later, settletl in Marquette coun.ty, which is still the home of John Bremner. He is one of the oldest surviving pioneers of that county, where he owns a farm of three hundretl and sixty acres. He is in- terested to a considerable extent in live stock and has devoted much of his atten- tion in recent years to the breeding of cattle, his herd being one of the best in a locality which is famous for the improved quality of its dairy stock. Though he has nearly attained the age of three score and ten, JMr. Bremner is still hale and hearty and noted for the rugged hospitality which charac- i/es the home of the Scotch-American farmer. Adaline Davis, who became the wife of the last named gentleman, was born in In- diana. She departed this life, March 16, 1 88 1, at the age of thirty-five years. Of the seven children born to John and Adaline Bremner, two died in childhood. The names of the others were as follows: George li., Charles \., Adaline (Mrs. Frank Carnegie), Jennie (Mrs. George Kerr) and Leslie. Mrs. Carnegie is now deceased, and the others, except Leslie, live in Portage. Upon reaching manhood. George H. Bremner became associated with his father and brother in the operation of threshing machines, an enterprise which he success- fully continued for a number of years. In 1893 he located in Portage. In March of the following year he formed a new part- nership with his brother, Charles, in the purchase of the Farmers Hotel. They ap- plied themselves to this enterprise with the same interest and vigor which had made their previous undertakings uniformly suc- cessful and sdtin found the meager capacities of this building insufficient to accommodate their growing custom. .Vccordingly the Planters" Hotel was built, as previously stated, and its popularity was ensured from the start. Both proprietors possess the happy faculty of making their guests feel at home immediately on their arrival, and the numerous details (.>f the business are managed witli care and intelligence. George H. Bremner was married, March 2^, 1894, to Miss Katheri'ue OAIaley, daughter of John and Julia O'Maley, of Marquette county, Wiscdusin. Mrs. Brem- ner, who is an industrious and capable landlady, is the mother of two bright chil- dren, Grace and Hazel. Mr. Bremner is identified with McOueeney Lodge, No. 104, Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in political princi|)les, lint is not gi\en to the discussiiin nf pdlitics. Charles .\lbcrt P>remner, junior member 432 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY of the firm, is also a native of Marquette county, born on the 8th day of June, 1869. His early years were divided between farm labor and attendance at the district school. At the age of eighteen he entered into a partnership with his father and his brother George in the purchase of a steam thresh- ing machine, which they operated for some time. The brothers bought out their fa- ther's interest and eventually added another machine to their outfit, doing a prosperous business in connection with their other farm work. In the fall of 1893 lis liecame a resi- dent of Portage and spent the following winter in the employ of a contractor who was engaged in constructing locks on the canal for the United States government. The next spriug he joined his brother in the operation of the hotel business, as previously stated in this article. He has ever since been connected with that enterprise, though he has spent more or less time as local agent for harvesting machines. Whatever luisi- ness he undertakes is carried on with faith- ful and conscientious care and he enjnvs the confidence of his associates in an unmeas- ured degree. He is independent in political thought and action, and the only fraternal organization with which he is connected is Winona Lodge, Xo. 132, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. ROBERT T. IvIXG. Robert T. King, a well-known citizen of Cambria, has varied financial interests in Co- lumbia county, where he has resided throughout his career. He was born in Fort \\'innebago township, Columbia county, ^V'isconsin, June i. 1S63. and is a son of William and Janet (Weir) King, both of whiim were natixes of Scotland. The father of our subject was a son of Robert King, of Lugton Ridge. The family is one of the oldest in Scotland, some of its early members having suffered martyrdom or. account of their religious views. Robert King sprung from the Kings of Giffin Mill, which was in possession of the farm as early as 1640, and two hundred years or more thereafter. A number of the members of the King family have been prominent in busi- ness and professional life. Several were ministers in Glasgow, Montrose and other c'ties. David King, LL. D., was a United Presliyterian of Gray Parish church in Glas- gow. He married Elizabeth Th(_>mass(jn, a sister of Lord Kelvin. Another prominent ancestor was an electrical engineer, wIkt was drowned in the wreck of the La Plata in the Bay of Biscay. The father of our sub- ject was born at Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, January 6, 1810. He learned the carpen- ter's trade and in 1840 came to America and li\e(.l in New York City until 1843, when he came to Wisconsin, and k.icated in the town of Caledonia, Columbia county, and became one of the pioneers of the town- ship. He spent four years in Caledonia tLW"nship and then removed to Scott town- ship, where he entered a claim to govern- ment lantl on Portage Prairie, where he lived several years. He went to California \'ia Panama, and spent four years mining with good success, and upon his return to Wisc(jnsin sold his farm in Scott townshijj and purchased land near Portage, .\fter two years there he again went to Scott township and bought a farm at Centerville and another tract of hnul near Cambria, which was his home until his death, Jan- uary 10, 1899. He owned about four hun- dred acres of land, and had the best farm on Portage Prairie and conducted farming ex- tensively there. He engaged in raising Clydesdale horses and dealt in other horses. He conducted an extensi\'e loan business and l)ecame a stockholder of the Ctv Bank WILLIAM KIHG. (Deceased MRS. WILLIAM KIHG. (Deceased.) COMPENDIUM or BIOGRAPHY. 437 of Portage, in which he was interested until his death. He was a man of charitable deeds and was a liberal contributor to many undertakings, and always relieved the suf- fering when appealed to for aid. Among other benefices he donated a bell to the Pres- byterian church of Cambria. He was a man of unpretentious appearance, and enjoyed physical activity until the last years of his life. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Janet Weir, was a native of Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was a daughter of John and Barbara Weir. She survived her husband until October 12, 1900, when she^ too, passed to her rest. The parents of our subject had a family of three sons and three daughters, who were as fol- lows : Janet, now Mrs. Matthew Kerr, of Bath, South Dakota ; Agnes, now Mrs. George Hartman, of I-'ardee\ille; Marion, who died at the age of si.\ years; William, deceased, wh(j left one cliilil, Anna; Robert T. ; and George, of Colorado Springs, Colo- rado. Robert T. King attended the public schools of Columbia county and ueceixed a liberal education. He has followed agri- cultural pursuits most of his life, and also was engaged in the loan business. He con- ducted a harness business at Grand Rapids for about three years. He I milt a modern and pleasant residence in Camljria in 1895, where he has since resided, and is surround- ed by all the comforts of life. Our suljject was married in 1895 to Miss Vinna Blanchard, daughter of Calvin and Jane Blanchard. Mrs. King is a highly ac- complished lady and is a native of Lamar- tine. Fond du Lac count)', Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the high school at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, and taught nine years in Wood countv, earning- the reputation iif be- ing one of the l)est teachers of the county. Since residing in Camljria she has been active ii; religious and other public works, and was one of the chief promoters of the Star Liter- ary Society, the first organization of that character founded in Cambria. She and Mr. King are connected with the Presbyterian church and Mrs. King is a leader in Sunday school work, and all social functions of the church. Mrs. King's father, Calvin Blanch- ard, was born in Dexter, Maine, and went to Wisconsin in 1854. He resided in Mon- ticello, Minnesota, at the time of the great Sioux massacre in 1862, but is now a resi- dent of Cambria. He has attained the ad- vanced age of eighty years. The maternal ancestors of Mr. Blanchard were named Johnson and they came to America in the Mayflower. His grandfather ser\-ed in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. King's mother was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, and was a daughter of Horace Shaw, who came from Scotland. His grandfather, George Shaw, was a S(jn of a wealthy nobleman, and came to New York City and afterwards married a German woman. He dietl in Ohio and never received the inheritance due him. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Iving, repre- sentative types of the pioneers of the state, are shown elsewhere in this volume, and will largely enhance its value to a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this part of the state. JOHN GOMAN. John Goman, one of the most conscien- tious and reliable citizens of Dellona town- ship, Sauk county, Wisconsin, was born near Montreal, Canada, February 15, 1840, a son of Abraham and Sophia (Martin) Goman, nati\-es of the same locality and of French descent. In 1847 the family came tu \^■i.sconsin. after having first spent three years in New York state, and in 1859 took up their residence in Sauk county. 1 he fa- ther, who was a devout meml)er of the 438 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Catholic cliurch, died in Viroqua, Wiscon- sin, in 1S72, aged fifty-eigiit years, and the mother, surviving him many years, died in Barron county, ^^'isconsin, in 1896, at the age of seventy-nine. To them were born thirteen children, of whom eleven reached years of maturity. Besides our subject, one brother, Nelson, li\-es in the village of Del- ton, Sauk county, and another, Thomas, makes his home in Juneau county, Wis- consin. John Goman was only a small boy when he came wth his parents to this state and for a dozen years or more he lived in Ra- cine county, where his father operated a rented farm. Since 1859 lie has made his home ir. Sauk county and has been actively identi- fied with its agricultural interests. During the Civil war he enlisted, August 16, 1862, in Company F, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of the department of the Gulf under the com- mand of Generals Smith and McClernand. He participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Greenville, Cypress Bend, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, the engagements at Carrion Crow Bayou, Sabine Cross Roads, Caine River and Jackson, Louisiana, and the sieges of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, Alabama. After the return of peace the regiment was stationed at Mobile until honorably dis- charged July 4, 1865. Mr. Goman had many narrow escapes from death and capture, es- pecially at Carrion Crow Bayou, where most of his brigade were taken jjrisoners. He did not hear the order to retreat and was deserted by most of his comrades before aware of it. For several years after the war he lived in Reedsburg, but in the fall of 1882 purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 24, Dellona township, on which he has since resided. When he lo- cated thereon it was all wild land, Init he has since cleared and placed under cultiva- tion one-half of the amount, has made many other improvements, and in connection with general farming gives some attention to fruit culture. In 1867, Mr. Goman married Miss Lois Charlotte Jones, who was born in New York and died in Reedsburg, November 24, 1880, at the age of forty-three years, leaving four children, viz. : Adelbert Grant, who lives upon the home farm; Lilly, wife of Albert Hide, of Dellona township; James Sherman, of Rockford, Illinois; and Rachel Sophia, wife of Fred Mash, of Delton, Wis- consin. Mr. Goman was again married June 22, 1883, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Ellis, a native of Watertown, Wisconsin. Her parents are Joseph and Wilhelmina (Henneman) Ellis, natives of England and Germany, respectively. Her father owned and operated a woolen mill in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for several years, but is now living in Delton. By his sec- ond marriage our subject has seven chil- dren : Amelia L, Andrew John, Harrison Logan, Ira Jeremiah, Minnie Louise, Abra- ham L. and William D. In politics Mr. Goman is a Republcan, but has ne\er been an active partisan. He is a true and earnest Christian, a convert of the faith of The Church of God, a new organization in his neighlxirhood, and he trusts implicitly in the Lord for his spirit- ual and temjjoral welfare and that of his family. HENRY GETHERS. Henry Gethers, a practical and enter- prising agriculturist of Richfield township, Adams county, owns and operates a well- improved and highly cultivated farm of one liundred and eighty-nine acres on section 12. He is a native of Pennsvlvania, born in COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 43C> Venango connty. Jnly 12, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Betsy E. (Slepy) Gethers. The fatlier died when our sul)- ject was a small boy, and the mother mar- ried again, her second husband being John Hopper, who brought the family to Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1849, ^'^J after buy- ing and selling se\'eral farms, he finally lo- cated at what is now Coloma Corners, where he owned several hundred acres of land. Air. Gethers accompanied the family on their remo\-al to Wisconsin and in Adams county he grew to manhood, early becom- ing familiar with the arduous duties which fall to the lot of the pioneer farmer. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hun- dred and eighty-nine acres, of which eighty- five acres are under cultivation, and has erected thereon a good substantial residence, it being the second house built upontheplace. He is an enterprising and progressive agri- culturist, and is meeting with fair success in his labors. On the 17th of September, 1S65, Mr. Gethers married Miss Esther Ann Parks, of Richfield township, Adams county, a daugh- ter of William and Mary (Meade) Parks, of Waushara county, Wisconsin. Her fa- ther enlisted at Richford, during the Civil war, in C(jnipany E, Si.xteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the head at the battle of Shiloh. When last seen he had started for the creek to wash the blood from his face, after which all trace of him was lost. Our subject and his wife have a family of six children living, name- ly : Charles, Malona J., John William, Mary E., Henry and Roy S. Mr. Gethers was also among the boys in blue during the Rebellion, a member of Company E, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of the "Iron Brigade."' He was the first to enlist at Co- loma Corners, and he participated in the bat- tles of Fredericksburg, Gainesville, the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, and the engagement al South Mountain where he was wounded in the left shoulder. He was sent to Queen Street Newnet University Hospital, Balti- more, Maryland, from which he was hon- orably discharged on account of disability December 17, 1862. His residence in Adams county, covering a period of over half a century, has numbered him among its valued citizens who have been devoted to the public welfare. He has manifested the same loyalty in days of peace as in days of war, and all wlio know him have for him the highest regard. LYMAN A. MURRAY. The motto "merit always commands its reward," is well exemplified in the career of our subject. He early learned that knowl- edge is the key with which the poor bov on the farm could open the store house of the world and cull its choicest fruits. The re- sult is that he is now one of the most success- ful business men of Kilbourn City, and is es- sentially the architect of his own fortune. A native of Sauk county, Mr. Murray was born in Dellona township, Xoxxmber 28, 1852, and is the oldest son of Alexan- der and Charlotte L. (Montgomery) Mur- ray, natives of Scotland and New Xork. re- spectively, who were married in Wisconsin in 1849. The maternal grandfather was William Montgomery. The father was born in Greenock, Scotland, July 28, 18 17, and in early life was a sailor, the last three years of his service being with the government in the Mexican war. In 1849 he came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in the north- ern part of Dellona township, which he cleared, broke and improved with good buildings. As the greater part of his life lias been spent up(in the water, his first at- 440 COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY tempt at farming was somewhat amusing. His first team was a yoke of oxen, which he hitclied by placing the yoke wrong side up and attached them to the plow with an eleven-foot chain. The team being so far in advance of the plow the furrows w-ere ver}^ deep. His first attempt at mowing was also ludicrous, the scythe being thrust into the ground and bent double. But being a verj- intelligent man, he soon learned the mysteries of farming, and became a suc- cessful agriculturist. He afterward bought eighty-five acres of land fi\e miles from Reedsburg, \\'isconsin, which he improved in a substantial manner He served his town in an official capacity, and was ac- counted a very competent officer. His death occurred August 27, 1900. His wife died in Dellona township. Sauk county. ^March II, 1895. During his boyhood Lyman A. Murra^• attended the common schools of Sauk county and the high school of Reedsburg, and com- pleted his education at the State University of \\'isconsin, making his own way through college by working on the farm, teaching school in Sauk county, and harvesting in Minnesota. He was verj' industrious and enterprising, and his success in life is due e::tire]y to his own efforts. After leaving the universit}- he was principal of the school al Delton for a time, and for one year was principal of the high school at Prairie du Sac. He was again chosen for the latter position, but on account of ill-health was obliged to resign, and in 1882 accepted the position of state agent for a school supply company, selUng school charts. He later sold a line of general school supplies, and thoroughly canvassed both Minnesota and ^\'isconsin until 1888, when having gained some very valuable experience he was able to build up a business of his own along the same line. By perseverance and strict at- tention to his business he has built up an ex- cellent trade as a manufacturer, importer and dealer in school supplies, his orders coming from far and near. Since May, 1884, he has made his home in Kilbourn Cit}^, Columbia county, where he purchased lots 16, 17 and 18, block 74, on Capital street, and has erected thereon a good resi- dence and office. On the 1st of January, 1880, ]\Ir. Mur- ra)- married Miss Robinnia Murray, of Kil- bourn City, who was born in Sterling, Scot- land, September 12, 1846, and in 1851 was brought to America by her parents, Thomas and Isabella Murray. After residing for five years in Oswego, Xew York, the family came west and settled at Old Town, New- port, Sauk county, \\'isconsin, in its palm- iest days. ^Ir. ^lurra}' is of a studious disposition, and, although he takes no active part in po- litical affairs, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, and during the campaign of 1896 made many speeches in the interest of free silver. His business has made him well known in many states, and he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. THOMAS HOWLAXD. Thomas Howland. an esteemed veteran of the great Civil war, residing at Reeds- burg, was born in the town of Laurens, Ot- sego county, Xew York, June 30, 1832. His parents were ^^'ilham C. and Abigail (El- dred) Howland. His grandfather, Charles Howland, came from Dutchess county, X'ew York, and was a scion of an English Quaker family which located in xme of the Xew England colonies at an early date. His wife's name was Sarah Irish. William C. Howland was a native of Xew Lisbon. Xew York, and spent his life COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 441 in Otsego county, reaching tlie age of seventy-nine years. He was a wlieelwright by trade, the chief products of his skill being spinning wheels, quill wheels, etc.. for which there was a considerable Incal demand in his time. He had learned the art from his fa- ther and was known as a competent work- man and exemplary citizen. Mrs. Abigail Howland died at the age of forty-four years in the town of Tompkins, Delaware county, New York. Her father, Thomas Eldred, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, in which a number of his relatives also par- ticipated. After his death, his widow, whose maiden name was W'eatherly, mar- ried Joshua Card, who had served his coun- try in tlie war of 1812. Thomas Howdand is the eldest of a fam- ily whidi comprises six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now li\'ing. Be- side the public school, he spent a short time at a select school in his native town, making the most of his opportunities and, as he was blessed with a remarkable memory, he has retained most of the information gleaned in liis boyhood. He taught for six winters, working at the carpenter trade in summer, and subsecjuently learned the trade of mill- wright with Darwin Feltor, since superin- tendent of water works at Binghamton, New York, for many years. In 1868 Air. Howland came to Wiscon- sin, locating at Cazenovia, Richland coun- ty; there he carried on a farm and also fol- lowed the carpenter trade. He also spent some time at Merrill, Wisconsin, as mill- wright and carpenter. Since 1894 he has been a resident of Reedsburg, and though he has nearly reached the allotted age of man, he is still conspicuous for his physical and intellectual activity. While a young man he joined the New \ork militia, and was for seven years a member of Company E, Forty-first Regi- ment, Nineteenth Brigade, of that organiza- tion. August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the great Civil war, being honora1)ly discharged on June 26, 1865. Ihough he repeatedly declined any promo- tion, he was appointed a cor]3oral Novem- ber 21, 1864. Among the engagements in which he participated may be mentioned the siege of Suftolk, Virginia, the siege of Charleston, South Carolina, liattle of John's Island, battle of James' Island, siege of Fort Wagner, and the expedition against Ander- sonville. South Carolina. July 9, 1863, while on a forced march to \Varrenton Junc- tion, he received a light sunstroke, from the effects of which he was temporarily dis- abled. July 9, 1864, at John's Island, South Carolina, he headed a Ijand of seven volun- teers to tear up a bridge in close proximity to the enemy. Four of the number were shot and their bodies fell into the river, while he received three bullet wounds in dift'erent parts of his body almost simultaneously. None of his wounds were very dangerous, and he continued to discharge his duty faith- fully until the close of the conflict, though suffering considerably from fever and ague. One quite exciting experience in which he and his comrades indulged was a hunt of wild hogs on Bull's Island, near Charles- ton. Mr. Howland was married January i, 1857, to Lydia George, daughter of John and Mary George, of Laurens, New York. Mr. George was a silk weaver, who came to the United States from England in 1830. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. How- land : Franklin Eugene, a well-known ar- chitect and business man of Reedsburg, born September 13, 18^7; and Burton Chauncey, born October 25. 1859, and died April 21, 1897, at Rat Portage, Ontario, in wdiich province he had been engaged in prospecting for gold. Air. Howland is not connected 44i COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. with any civil organization except the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been a Repub- lican since casting his first presidential bal- lot for Fremont in 1856. FLOYD A. FIELD. Floyd A. Field, one of the leading busi- ness men of Kilbourn City, Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, has shown in his successful business career that he has the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy, a com- bination which, when possessed by men in any walk of life, never fails to effect notable results. He is now successfully engaged in the lumber business, and is also interested in several other enterprises which ha\e been of material benefit to his town and county. A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Field was born in Plainville, Adams county, August 3, 1858, and is the oldest living son of Henry and Olive Field, of whom further mention is made on another page of this volume. He was educated in the common and graded schools of Kilbourn, and at the age of twenty-one years began his business career in that city as a dealer in grain and farm produce, in which he was successfully en- gaged for eight years. In 1886 he bought the pleasure steamers plying between Kil- bourn and the Dells of the Wisconsin river, consisting of three boats, the "Eola," "Alex- ander M." and "Dell Queen," which he im- proved. He put the business on a good pay- ing basis and continued his connection with it until 1892, when he sold out to the Dells Resort Company. In 1896 he established a lumber yard in Kilbourn, and now han- dles a full line of building materials. He also owns a cheese factory and grist mill, and lots 9, 10, block 75, Capitol street, all of which property has been acquired through his own well-directed efforts, good business ability and sound judgment. On the 9th of July, 1892, \h. Field was united in marriage with ]\Iiss Ella Kane, who was born in New Haven township, Ad- ams county, Wisconsin, in April, 1863, and was educated in the common schools. Her parents are Timothy and Mary Kane, of that township. Our subject and his wife have two children: Henry A., born March 6, 1894: and Floyd A., Jr., born August 30, 1896. Politically Mr. Field is a stanch Republi- can, never swerving in his allegiance to the men and measures of that party, and as a good citizen he takes a deep and commend- able interest in public affairs, but has never aspired to official honors. He is a cjuiet and unassuming man, but a deep thinker and shrewd business man who commands the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life. WILLIS PHELPS. Willis Phelps, a well-known farmer re- siding on section 21, Lincoln township, Ad- ams county, is one of the heroes of the war of the Rebellion, and is deserving of spe- cial mention in the annals of his county, state and nation, for the part he has played as a patriotic citizen. A native of New York, he was born in Hastings, Oswego county, December 3, 1842, and is a son of Edwin D. and Sally A. (Keeler) Phelps, the former born in Vermont in 1818, the latter in New York in 1820. The father, who was a cooper by trade, came to Adams county, W'isconsin, in 1851, and throughout the re- mainder of his life engaeed in agricultural pursuits. Fraternally he was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and politically was a supporter of the Republican party. He was a recognized leader in his town, took an active and prominent jiart in public af- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 443 fairs and filled several local offices, includ- ing that of chairman. The subject of this sketch still resides en the homestead of thirty-five acres, being a part of the farm patented to his father by the government, of which most is now under cultivation, and as a systematic and thor- ough agriculturist he is meeting with well- deserved success in the operation of the farm. On the 8th of February, 1864, he laid aside all personal interests to enter the service of his country, enlisting in the Eighth Wisconsin Light Artillery, under Captain H. E. Stiles. He was honorably discharged August 16, i86^, and is now an active mem- ber of Badger Post, No. 122, G. A. R., of Friendship. In connection with farming he now carries on blacksmithing and does gen- eral repair work. In politics he is an ardent Repulilican, and cast his first vote for Abra- l;ani Lincoln. Mr. Phelps was married .\pril 12, 1894, in Lincoln township, to Mrs. Nannie M. Jackson, formerly Miss Hartson, and to them have been born three children: Willis E., Rudolph H. and Edward C. Mrs. Phelps was born in New Chester township, Adams county, December 15, 1862, and here she has spent almost her entire life, though in 1870 she removed with her parents, Orrin J. and Minerva (Stevens) Hartson, to Wal- worth county, this state, and remamed there ten years. Subsequently she spent some time in Hebron, McHenry county, Illinois, but in 1893 she returned to Adams county, Wisconsin, where she has since made her home. Orrin J. Hartson, the father of Mrs. Phelps, was born in the town of Howland, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1832. During the dark days of the Civil war he enlisted February 29, 1864, as a private in Com- pany C, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, and he Was discharged at Jefferson- ville, Ind., July 12, 1865. He participated in the liattles of the Wilderness, Cold Har- bor, North Anna, Shell Hollow, Boydton Road, Hatchie's Run and Petersburg. Dur- ing the last named engagement he was wounded, and at Ream's Station he was taken prisoner, but managed to escape and returned to his regiment in a suit of rebel clothes. His companions then gave him the nickname of Johnny. He was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, and is now an honored mem- ber of G. J. Miller Post, No. 145, G. A. R., of Oxford, Marquette count}', Wisconsin. His wife was born in Ogdensburg, New York, September 22, 1842, and with her grandfather came to Adams county, Wis- consin, at the age of nine years, remaining here until 1870, when the family moved to Walworth county, where she died April 15, 1880. By his first marriage Mr. Phelps had five children, two now living, Ellen M. and Emma. By Mrs. Phelps" first marriage she has two children living : Florence AL, born February 12, 1882, now the wife of Jerome Paddock, a farmer of Adams Center; and Garner A., born August 10, 1887. CHARLES C. -CLARIv. Among the energetic and successful farmers and stock raisers of Columbia coun- ty, who thoroughly understand the occu- pation which they follow, is the gentleman v.hose name introduces this sketch. He is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Fort Winnebago township, where he owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Clark was Ixirn in Sandwich, New Hampshire, July 29, 1855, and is a son of 444 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Edwin and Olive (Roberts) Clark, also na- tives of that state, and probably of English and Welsh descent, respectively. Both grandfathers of our subject spent their en- tire lives as farmers in New Hampshire. During his boyhood the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, but later was em- ployed in a machine shop at Laconia, New Hampshire, for some years. On coming v.'est in i8()8 be spent a few montlis in Dow- ner's drove, Illinois, and tb.en located in Marquette C(.iunty, ^\'isc(:lnsin, where he pur- chased a farm in Moundville township. Nine years later he came to Fort Winnebago towmship, Columbia county, and in 1892 removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died in January, 1895, ^t the age of seventy-five years. In New Hampshire be was a mem- ber of the Methodist church, but after com- ing to this state he attended the Presbyte- rian church. PoHtically he was a lifelong- Democrat. His estimable wife died in Fort \Vinnebago township, July 26, 1892, at the age of seventy-two years. In the family of this worthy couple were only two sons : Harrison, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio ; and Charles C, our subject. Charles C. Clark was about thirteen years of age when the family came to Wis- consin, and he was educated in the district schools, but coukl ne\-er endure the confine- ment of the school room. He remained with his parents until the mother's death, having purchased the farm in partnership with his father, and finally bought his brother's interest in the place after his fa- ther's death. In 1896 he erected a fine resi- dence thereon, and has made many other impro\ements which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the farm. He gives special attention to stock raising. He is a Democrat in principle, but at lucal elec- tions votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office regardless of ])arty lines. On the 27th of December, 1882, Mr. Clark married Miss Agnes Rodger, a na- tive of Moundville, Marquette county, Wis- consin, where her parents, Alexander and Margaret (Gregg) Rodger, are still living. Both of the latter are natives of Scotland, and emigrated to the United States in 1850, ai which time they took up their residence in Marquette county, Wisconsin. The father i.- now nearly eighty years of age, and the mother over seventy, but both are very active for their years. Mrs. Clark's paternal grandmother also came to this state, where she died at an advanced age. Our subject and his wife have four children : Pearl, Ivie, Harold and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have Iieen consist- ent and faithful meml)ers of the Presbyterian church of Oxford from yi.iuth, and are high- 1\' respected by all who know them. FRANK DAVID HULBURT, M. D. Frank David Hulburt, M. D., is rec- ognized as one of the most influential citizens of Reedsburg, and has achieved consider- able distinction in his profession. He rep- resents one of the pioneer families of Sauk county, as well as of the United States, being a descendant of the seventh generation from Thomas Hurlbut, who landed in this coun- try in 1635. Chronological records show tliat Hulburt, Hurlbut, Hobart, Hubbard, and some others, are modifications of the original name, Hubert, and as far as known all bearing these names are remotely de- scended from "De Hubert," an officer in the army of William the Conqueror, who took an active part in the subjug"ation of England and received an extensive grant of land as a reward for his services. Thomas Hurlbut was a native of Scot- land, born in 1610. He entered the British COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 445 army and came to New England nnder com- mand of Lyon Gardiner, who 1)nilt and com- n-ianded Fort Saybrook, Connecticut. Thom- as Hnrlbut was wounded in the Pequot war, but survived and settled at Wethersfield. Connecticut, where he led an honorable and useful life, filling a number of civil offices under the Colonial government. A bio- graphical sketch of Honorable D. B. Hul- burt, the father of the subject of these para- graphs, appears elsewhere in this volume, to which the reader is referred. Dr. Frank D. Hulburt, whose name heads this article, was born at Loganville, December 23. 185^. His early life was spent ujMn the farm, and though his edu- cational instruction was mainly limited to the common schools, he gained an ample knowledge of the ways of the world, and this experience, backed by a goodly store of cour- age and common sense, fitted him for un- dertaking almost any practical line of busi- ness. While a young man he entered a drug store at New Boston, Illinois, and later was employed in the same line of business at Reedsburg, spending five years altogether and becoming a registered pharmacist in 1882. He then took a course at Rush Col- lege in Chicago, receiving his diploma from that famous institution in 1884. He began practice at Loganville, but, two years later, removed to Reedsburg where he has since carried on the general practice of medicine and surgery, winning the confidence of the people in his professional skill in a very marked degree. He is examining surgeon for a number of insurance companies, and for five years held the position of visiting physician to the Sauk County Lisane Asy- lum. He was married, February 13, 1887, to Miss Mina Markee, daughter of Asa E. ar.d Caroline M. Markee, of Reedsburg, which is the birthplace of Mrs. Hulburt. She is the mother of two bright boys: Arthur 24 M. and Milton F. The family enjoy the Ijest of social connections. The Doctor is identified with the Masonic order and other fraternal organizations. He is also a mem- ber of Wisconsin Chapter. Sons of the American Kevtilution, and of the Wiscon- sin and the Wisconsin Central Medical As- sociations. He has served as mayor of the city of Reedsburg and in other local posi- tions of trust and responsibility. He is a gentleman of easy manners and genial na- ture, and when occasion rec^uires is capable of expressing his views on any subject in public or private in an eloquent, forcible and logical manner. CHESTER W. S^HTH. Chester W. Smith, principal of the Kil- bourn city high school, and one of the most prominent educators of central Wisconsin, is a native of this state, born in Nepeuskun township, Winnebago county, April 24, 1857, and is the oldest son of William C. and Sarah (Foote) Smith, who, in 1848, were the first couple married in that town- ship. His paternal grandfather was Will- iam C. Smith, Sr., of Genesee, New York, and his maternal grandfather was Percival Foote, a cousin of Solomon Foote, United States senator from New Hampshire and a contemporary of Daniel Webster. The Foote family can trace their ancestry back to the one bearing that name who defended King Charles I of England. They possessetl a coat of arms. During his boyhood our subject attended school in Omro, Wisconsin, where he pur- sued his studies under the direction of Pro- fessor O. T. Bright, now superintendent of public schools for Cook county, Illinois. He afterward graduated from the Berlin high school, and now holds a life state certificate as a teacher. At the age of seventeen he 440 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. tauglit for one year in tlie district schools of \Vinnel)ago county, and after graduating- from the Berhn liigh school, he taught in that city for two years. In 1876 he went to Winneconne as principal of the schools of that place, and remained there for eleven years. He then established the "Winne- conne Enterprise," which he edited for one year, and afterward bought the "Omro Stal- wart," of Omro, Wisconsin, which he con- ducted for the same length of time. The following year he again taught in \Vinne- conne, and in 1891 accepted the position of principal of the Kilbourn City high school, which he has since so creditably and accept- ably filled. In 1898 he was placed on the force of state institute conductors, and has met with most excellent success as a teacher and conductor of summer schools. jNIt. Smith is an artist of considerable ability, and while engaged in newspaper work he illus- trated his own journals, his engraving at- tracting much favorable comment. He is a member of the Good Templars Society, and is a great temperance worker, having delivered many lectures on that subject. Re- ligiously he is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, of Kilbourn City, and politically is identified with the Republican party. On the 30th of June, 1878, Mr. Smith was united in marriage w^itli Miss Clara L. Daggett, who was born in Attleboro, Mas- sachusetts, January 8, 1851, a daughter of Pliny and Annie Daggett. Her uncle, John Daggett, was chairman of the Repub- lican state central committee of Massachu- setts for many years. She was educated in the high school of Avoca, Wisconsin, and the academy of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and in 1874 commenced teaching in the pub- lic schools of Berlin, Wisconsin. She suc- cessfully followed that profession at difi^er- ent places for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children. as follows: Ella R., born April 6, 1880, is an accomplished musician who is now teaching in Downer College, at Milwaukee, \\'isconsin. She studied one year at Osh- kosh, under the direction of Dunning P. Jones and Mrs. R. H. Edward, and at Mil- waukee, under the instruction of Julius Klauser. Grace, born July 7, 1882, has taught for one year in the public schools of Adams county, after ha\'ing graduated from the Kilbourn high school, and is now attend- ing" the Milwaukee Normal, where she will graduate at the end of the present school year. Russell L., born March 22, 1884, is also a graduate of the Kilbourn City high school, and is now bookkeeper in the store of A. C. Dixon & Sons, of that place. Keith D., born May 16, 1892. is still attending school in Kilbourn City. REV. MARTIN HASZ. Rev. Martin Hasz, pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, in Ouincy, Adams county, was born at Loganville, Sauk county, Wisconsin, June 4, 1871. He is the son of Nicholas and Maria (Luehrsenl Hasz, of Hanover, Germany, who emigrated to the United States about forty years ago. The family located in Loganville during the early days of Wisconsin's history, and the father engaged in farming, and is still a resident of Loganville. Of a family of eight children our sub- ject was the fifth in order of birth, and until about fifteen years of age he attended the parochial school at Loganville. He then w^ent to Milwaukee, and for six years at- tended the Concordia College of the Evan- gelical Lutheran synod, of Missouri, Ohio and other states, where he finished the Latiii and classical course. He then attended Concordia Seminary at St. Louis three vearS,' COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 447 devoting himself to tlieology. He was in- stalled as pastor of St. John's chnrch, of Ouincy, August 9, 1895, and is also mission- ary to the Evangelical Lutheran parishes of Oxford, in Marquette county; Lyndon, in Juneau county; Necedah, Juncfiu county; Cartolville, Adams county; and the church in Springville township, Adams county. The work extends o\-er a large stretch of coun- try, requiring a drive of about one hundred and fifty miles a week. Mr. Hasz holds confirmation classes, and instructs about four days each week. Since accepting his charge he has met with excellent success, and has organized the churches at Necedah and Springville, and has built the churches in Ouincy and Lyndon. Mr. Hasz was married September 14, 1898, to Emma Gefifert, daughter of John and Dorathea (Dargel) Gefifert, of Reeds- burg, Sauk county. IMrs. Hasz's father was born at Barum, Hanover, Germany, and came to America about r854 and settled in Reedsburg, and purchased land for farm- ing, part of which lies within the city limits. The mother of Mrs. Hasz was born in Vo- kel, Hanover, Germany, and came to the United States about 1861, and was married to John Gefifert at Reedsburg in 1864. Njne children were lx)rn to Mr. and Mrs. Gefifert, Mrs. Hasz being their fifth child in order of birth. Rev. Hasz is yet a young man, but his labors have already reaped a ])i:)untiful har- vest, and he is devoted to the cause for which he consecrated his life, and under his guidance the prosperity of his church is as- sured, and the world made better by his teachings. He has gained many friends in his circuit, and is popular with his people and honored by them. He is deserving of much praise for what he has accomplished, and is a man of earnest, practical nature, and has infused new life into the church, and it is flourishing under his fosterins: care. It is a pleasure to meet a man whose heart and soul are in his work, when the chosen labors are fraught with benevolence and kindness, and such an one is the subject of this re- view. Withiiut a tJKHight for his own com- forts he goes the round of his parishes, per- forming his duties with cheerfulness and love, and thinking only of the good result- ing to mankind. WILLIAM HURLBUT HOPKINS. \Villiani Hurlbut Hopkins is one of the popular and successful young men of Bara- boo, Wisconsin. The business interests of the city are well represented by him, and whether in public or private life, he is al- ways a courteous, genial gentleman, well de- serving the high regard in which he is held. Mr. Hopkins was born in Baraboo, De- cember 15, 1865, a son of Charles Henry and Felicia (Hurlbut) Hopkins. The first of the family in iVmerica of whom a record has been preserved was Moses Hopkins, who was born March 13, 1751, and died in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, March 9, 1838. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Whiting, was born November 8, 1754, and died July 22, 1834. Their third child, Mark Hopkins, was born J-une 29, 1779, and died in St. Clair, Michigan, November 27, 1828. He married Tracy Lukins Kellogg, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and one of their sons was Samuel F. Hopkins, grand- father of our subject. He was born in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, September 15, 1803, and died in St. Clair, Michigan, June 21, 1884. By occunation he was a carpen- . ter. He married Miss Mary Ann Kenney, and among their children was Orrin K., a sharpshooter in the Civil war. Charles H. Hopkins, another son of that worthy coiq)le and the father of our sub- ject, was liorn in I'almcr, now St. Clair, 448 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Michigan, and about 1861 came to Baraboo, Wisconsin, where, in company with his brother, Mark Hopkins, he buih and oper- ated a sawmill. Subsequently he followed the carpenter's trade. He died at Baraboo, August 20, 1872, at the age of thirty-eight years. He was married at Wyocena, Wis- consin, April 30, 1863, to Miss Felicia Hurl- but, who died in Baraboo, July 19, 1884, aged forty-six years. She was a native of Clayton, New York, and a daughter of Henry Hurlbut, who located in Baraboo abut 1858, and here engaged first in lumber- ing and later in the hardware trade. In the family of Charles H. and Felicia Hop- kins were two sons : Harry, who was born in February, 1864, and died at the age of eighteen months; and William H., of this sketch. Our subject attended the public schools, ai;d later the Wayland Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, but owing to his mother's ili-health he was obliged to return home be- fore completing the course at that institu- tion. At the age of twenty-one he acquired an interest in the Island Woolen Mills, with which he was connected for several years, and in -May, 1892, bought a controlling in- terest in the Baraboo Gas & Electric Light Company, and assumed the management of the same. He is now practically sole pro- prietor of the establishment, which furnishes illumination for the entire town, lighting streets and buildings, and employing five people in the operation of the plant. Mr. Hopkins is a wide-awake, progressive busi- ness man of known reliability, and in his un- dertakings he has met with marked success. Besides the property already mentioned, he owns a brick block in the business portion of the town, and is interested in real estate in West Superior, Wisconsin, and Everett, Washington. On the 20th of December, 1886, Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage with Miss Ellen F. Watson, a native of Abelman, Wis- consin, and a daughter of Edward C. and Laura E. (Abelman) Watson, of Baraboo, who were ])ioneers of Sauk county. The onlv child born of this union died in infancv. WILLIAM CARL AUGUST MEYER. William Carl August Meyer, one of the most intelligent and progressive citizens of Fort Winnebago township, Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, whose time and attention are devoted to agricultural pursuits, was born on the /th of June, 1838, in Buessow by Colberg, province of Coslin, Ponierania, Prussia, and is a son of Kaspar and Louise (Gantz) Meyer, also natives of Buessow, where they spent their entire li\-es. The father served as sergeant in the commissary department of the German army during the Napoleonic wars from 1812 to 1815, being a member of a cavalry regiment. During an engagement his pistol was shot from his hand and the stock shattered, but he leaped from his horse and recovered the weapon, which is now in possession of his descend- ants in Germany. He was head shepherd on a large estate, overseeing the work of a large number of men, and the maternal grandfather of our sul)ject held a similar position. In his native land William C. A. Meyer received a fair common school education, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he entered tlie German army, serving four years on the Polish frontier. In 1866 he emigrated to the United States, being five weeks in crossing the Atlantic from Hamburg to New York. He first lo- cated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for one season, and for a few months he attended an English school, there acquiring a fair knowledge of our Ian- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 449 On coming to Columbia county, Mr. j\Ieyer worked at such em])loyment as he could obtain until Octolier, 1867, when he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Fort Winnebago township, of which only twenty acres were then under cultiva- tion, but no buildings had been erected thereon. He subsequently purchased ad- joining land, until he now has four hundred and eighty acres, which he has transformed into a highly cultivated and productive farm, an^l has improN-ed by the erection of a good set of farm buildings. He has a fine herd of high grade Jersev cattle, a flock of Shrop- shire sheep, and other live stiick, and now gives particular attention to the dairy busi- ness, having a good milk route in the city of Portage for the past twelve years. He is an enterprising, wide-awake business man, and has -met with well-deserved success since coming to this country. In 1867 Mr. Meyer was united in mar- riage with Miss Otilla Kutz, who was born in Warlang, province of Coelen, Pomerania, and came to the new world in 1867 with her parents, William and Augusta (Jsberner) Kutz, locating in Columbia county, Wiscon- sin. Her father died upon his farm in Fort Winnebago township at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Of the children born to our subject and his wife one died in infancy, and the others are as follows : Reinhold, who is employed in a store in Portage; Anna, wife of Professor C. Haase, of Mil- waukee; Otto, who is also a clerk in Port- age; William, at home; Paul, a teacher of Stone Bridge, Ontario, Canada ; Louise, at home ; Hugo, who is a teacher at Atwater, Minnesota; Louisand Edward, bothat home. They also have one grandchild. The chil- dren have all been provided with good edu- cational ad\'antages, and their home is one of culture and refinement. Since becoming a citizen of this coun- trv, Mr. Mever has affiliated with the Re- publican party, and has held several local offices, serving as township supervisor, and as township treasurer for four years. He has been interested in the fire insurance Inisi- ness for some years. With his family he is connected with St. John's Lutheran church, of Portage, of which he was a trus- tee two years, and vice-president of the cdh- gregation for a number of years past. He takes an active interest in promoting the v, elfare of his township and county, encour- aging and aiding all enterprises tending to benefit the ]niblic, and enjoys in a high de- gree the ccjufidence and esteem of his fellow men. THOMAS J. WILLL\MS. Thomas J. Williams is a native of Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, born in Caledo- nia township, November 16, 1864, and is a son of David J. and Margaret (Jenkins) Williams. The father was a native of An- glesea, Wales, and was a son of David and Milcah Williams, who spent their entire lives in that country. Two of their sons, however, came to America, the other, besides the father of our subject, being Hugh T. Williams, who has spent most of his life in Caledonia township, but is now li\-ing in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It was in 1851 that David J. Williams crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Racine, Wisconsin, where he made his home for six years, though a part of the time was spent in the Wisconsin pineries. About 1855 he vi.s- ited Columbia county, and secured a claim ijf one hundred and sixty acres in Caledonia township, but did not locate thereon until the spring of 1857, removing from Sheboy- gan county, with an ox team and bringing with him (.mc or two cows. He at once commenced to ini]>rove and cultivate his Irnd, and during the thirtv years he made 450 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY that farm his home he added to it from time to time until he had five hundred and sixt)' acres. In connection with farming he gave consideraljle attention to the Uve stock busi- ness, and in both undertakings steadily pros- pered, becoming quite well-to-do. In 1887, owing to ill-liealth he remo\-ed to Portage, where he spent the remainder of his life in retirement from active labor, dying there February 9, 1890, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a consistent and faithful member of the Presbyterian church of that city, and was a Republican in politics. While a resident of Caledonia township he served as assessor and su]3ervisor. His estimable wife passed away March 24, 1887, at the age of sixty years. She was a native of Cardi- ganshire, Wales, and a daughter of \\'ill- iam and Ann Jenkins, who came to the Unietd States with their family, in 1847, '^^''d settled in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, where they lived as farming people until called from this life. Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in a family of six children, the others being: William, who lives on the old homestead in Caledonia township; Sarah, a resident of Portage ; Griffith, of Caledonia township ; Hugh, who died at the age of twelve years ; and John C, a physi- cian of Chicago, Illinois. Thomas J. Williams acquired his edu- cation in the district schools of Caledonia township, and remained at home until he attained his majority, after which he spent two or three years in traveling in Minne- sota, Iowa and the Dakotas. In 1889 he located in Portage, and two years later com- menced dealing in produce, making a spe- cialty of potatoes, poultry and dairy prod- ucts. His business steadily increased, and he shipped large quantities of poultry and dairy products to Boston, while his pota- toes were mostly shipped south. He sold out his business June i, 1900. He is a wide-awake, progressive business man, and has met with well-merited success in his labors. He has always affiliated with the Republican party, and attends many politi- cal gatherings, but has never been a candi- date for official honors. MARION JACOBS. The fine and well-ordered farm lielong- ing to this gentleman, near Reedsburg, is conspicuous for the manner in which it has been improved and cultivated, and is evi- dently the homestead of one of the most en- terprising and progressive agriculturists of Sauk county. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Amitv, Erie county. May 3, 1842, and is a son of Galen E. and Martha M. (Wadsworth) Jacobs. The father was a native of upper Canada and a son of Gus- tavus Jacobs, who removed to that country from Vermont and later to New York. He lived to be over ninety years of age and died at Platteville, Wisconsin. For some years he worked as a stone mason and boat builder on the Erie canal at Rochester, New York. His grandparents came to America from France, probably from the province of Al- sace. The father of Gustavus Jacobs, who bore the same name, was a member of Col- onel Stark's command at the battle of Ben- nington during the Revolutionary war, and he also reached the advanced age of over ninety years. Our subject's father came with his family to Wisconsin in 1855, and settled in the town of Honey Creek, Sauk county, where in connection with the opera- tion of his farm he also worked at the car- penter's trade. He died at North Freedom, in the fall of 1894, at the age of seventy- seven years, honored and respected by all wdio knew him. His wife, who is still liv- ing at that i)lace, was Ijorn near Attica, New York, April 19, 181 7, and is a daugh- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 451 ter cif Rodney \Va(ls\vortIi. a caliinet maker, who was eng'at;eil in the manufacture of chairs by hand at Attica. His father was a native of Ireland, and durino- iiis residence in tliis country made his home at .Vttica, where his death occurred. Two great- uncles of oirr subject, William and John Ja- cobs, were soldiers in the Mexican war. Marion Jacobs accompanied his [larents on their removal to Sauk county, and here grew to manhood. Prompted by a spirit of i;atriotism, he enlisted on the 4th of January, 1862, in Company F, Twenty-third Wis- consin \'olunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war, and was in the department of the Gulf, under the command, at different times, of Generals Grant, Sherman, Banks and Mc- Clernand. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, the siege of Vicksburg- and Eanks' disastrous expedition up the Red river. Though never w>junded or taken prisoner, his health was entirely broken down, and after his return to New Orleans from Banks" expedition he was confined to the hospital at that place, and later at Vicks- burg, Jefferson Barracks and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, being finally discharged June 26, 1865. He has never recovered his heal.tli, but suffers constantly from chronic diarrhea. After the war Mr. Jacobs worked for a time in a sawmill, and continued to make his home in Honey Creek township until 1891, when he bought a farm in Reedslnrrg town- ship, where he now resides. He is the owner of two fine farms, aggregating tw'O hundred and forty acres of tillable and hay land, and also has an eighty-acre timber tract. Potatoes and grain are his chief crops, but he also gives some attention to the breeding of Jersey cattle for his dairy. He has built large barns and has commodious accommodations for his stock, and every- thing ab<.>ut his place betokens the thrift and irdustry of a progressive owner. On the loth of April, 1870, Mr. Ja- col.)s married Miss Anna M. Voss, wdio died in April, 1871, leaving an infant daugh- ter, Anna, now Mrs. Walter Carpenter, of North Freedom. He was again married November 8, 1873, his second union being with Miss Louise AmljJer, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and in 1853 came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, with her parents, Thomas antl Abigail Ambler, wdio located in Troy. The father died in Chicago, Illinois, and the mother at Trov, Wisconsin. Bv this marriage Mr. Jacobs has two sons: Galen M., a resident of Seattle, Washing- ton ; and Seth, on the home farm. He also has one grandchild. Fraternally Mr. Jacobs is an honored member of H. A. Tator Post, G. A. R., and politically has been a lifelong Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln in 1864. while in the Union army dur- ing the war of the Rel)ellion. He has never been an aspirant for jjolitical honors, though for two years he acceptably served as as- sessor of Honey Creek township. JOHN ENOCH McMAHON. John Enoch McMahon, a leading citizen of Columbia county, has his pleasant and at- tractive home in k'ountain Prairie township, on section 18, antl is now enjoying the peace and rest that follow the strenuous years of an honorable and busy life. He is a son of Edward and Rosy McMahon, mention of whom is made in the biography of Hugh McMahon, brother of our subject. He has only one other brcjther living, Philip Mc- Mahon. of Rio. Thei'e is one sister, who is the wife of Patrick Connery, of Doyles- town. (jur subject came to this end of the coun- ty long fiefore the arrivrd of the railroad. 452 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. This was in 1849, ^"'1 I'P to the hreaking out of the Civil war lie worked on a farm. He was among the first to respond to the ap- " peal of the nation for help, and enlisted May 18, 1 86 1, in Company B, Seventh Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sent directly to Camp Lyons, Maryland, with orders to join the Army of the Potomac. IMcMahon participated in many of the fierc- est battles of the war. He was wounded at Gainesville, August 28, 1862, a bullet passing through his left hip and taking away two and a half inches of the hip bone in its course. He was sent to Ebenezer Hos- pital at Washington, D. C, and after a long and painful illness was discharged from the service as unfitted by his wound for farther duty. The natural severity of such a wound was greatly aggravated by the fact that after it was received he lay on the battlefield with- out aid for six days and seven nights. It is a wonder that he came through alive. Af- ter leaving the hospital Mr. McMahon re- turned to Columbia county, and for more than a year was totally unable to work. Af- ter a time, however, he was able to resume farming, and it has continued to be his life work. John Enoch McMahon and Miss Eliza- beth A. Starr were married November 16, 1864. She is a daughter of Deloss C. and Susannah Starr, of Kentucky. Her grand- mother, who had four brothers in the Revo- lutionary war, was over one hundred years at the time of her demise. Mr and Mrs. Mc- I\Iahon have eight living children: Susan, who is the wife of ^Villiam Kennedy, has her home in Fountain I'rairic; Jdsephine is Mrs. Charles Higgins, and lives in Chicago; ^^'illiam is at Doylestown ; Edward is in the same village; Steven is at Madison; Mary is Mrs. Frank Baker, at Mt. Horeb, \\'isconsin; Martha Naomi and Ever are at home. Our subject is a devoted Republi- can, and has frcduentlv been elected to im- portant local and county offices. He is the present chairman of the town laoard of Fountain Prairie. He is an earnest and wise friend of the public-school system, and helps along every public movement. He belongs to the George H. Brayton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and the Win- nebago Commandery, K. T. He is an active and energetic man, and in spite of the ad\'ancing years still plays the part of a man in the great drama of life. WILLIAM R. EVANS, Dece.\sed. William R. Evans, deceased, was for more than forty years one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the town of Caledonia, Columbia county. He was distinguished for I'iis industrious habits and exemplary moral character, these qualities, together with his simple tastes and quiet disposition, contrib- uting to make his home one of peace and happiness. Mr. Evans was born on a farm called "Plas Clocasnog," near Rhuthen, Denbigh- shire, Wales, January, 1824, and his death occurred at his home in Caledonia, Septem- ber 2, 1893. ^'-it 'itt'e 's known of his par- ents or ancestry, but he was doubtless reared to agricultural ])ursuits, and his intellectual training was full}- equal to the advantages enjoyed by the average Welsh lad in the first half of the nineteenth century. In 1850 he left the land of his nati\'ity and came to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic ocean, led, no doubt, by the prospect of ac- c[uiring a home at nominal expense, and in this commendable ambition he was destined to meet with gratifying success. After spending a year or so in Pennsylvania and Ohio, he came to Columbia county, \Viscon- sin, and secured a nice piece of land in the t(jwn of Caledonia. It required no small COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 453 amount of patient toil to make of tliis a till- able farm, but he diil not hesitate at the task, and eventually had the pleasure of making it a well improved farm. At lirst the near- est market for his products was at Madison, a point only to be reached l)y a tedious jour- ney, but he was seldom away from home on any errand but business with the exception of one trip to the home of his childhood. Though he had little inclination to par- ticipate in public matters, Mr. Evans always aimed to discharge his duty as a citizen ac- cording to the best of his knowledge. He became identified with the Republican party in the infancy of that organization, and al- ways gave conscientious support to its prin- ciples. He aimed to give his family the best educational and social advantages that his means would allow, and was always ready to assist the needy and deserving who sought to better their condition in life by honest "efifort. One of the few errands which called Mr. Evans from home in the early days was the seeking of a helpmeet to share his humble home. The lady who became his bride was Miss Laura Roberts, daughter of (jriffith and Ann (Richards) Roberts. She was born at Hendre, Llandanog, Merionethshire, Wales, and came alone to the United States in 1 85 1. She stopped for a short time at Portage, but soon went to La Crosse, being a passenger on the first trip made over a stage route opened between those places. 1 he jovtrney consumed three days, and the fare was five dollars. She found employ- ment at La Crosse, and Mr. Evans went thither from Caledonia on foot to visit her during their courtship. The date of their marriage was September 2, 1854. Mrs. Evans, who still resides upon the homestead farm, relates a number of interesting anec- dotes of pioneer days. She became house- keeping in a small log cabin, but her present home is a commodious dwelling with all modern conveniences and luxurious furnish- ings. Of her seven children, but three sur- vive, though eight children call her grand- mother. The record of her children fol- lows: Anne (Mrs. Griffith E. Davis) was born September 29, 1855, and died at the age of twenty-three years ; John, born April 16, 1857, died at six years of age; Eliza- beth and Griffith both died in infancy ; Mar- garet (Mrs. John Davis) lives at Manches- ter, Green Lake county, Wisconsin; Laura June is the widow of John Rowlands and lives on the homestead in Caledonia; and Clara is the wife of Dr. Charles Smith, of Boody, Illinois. She is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College, Chicago, and practiced the healing art for some time. DAVID NOAH BACON, Deceased. The community in which a good man passes his life suft'ers a loss in his death, al- though he may leave an influence that widens as the years roll by, through the better lives of those who were directly benefited by him. When the late David N. Bacon was called from his life work many felt a per- sonal sense of loss, due to a knowledge of his good citizenship, and habits of indus- try and prudence. He was an early settler of Wisconsin, and for many years resided in Adams county, where he was proprietor of a pleasant estate near Point BlutT. He had become known to a large circle, and had pursued a career that had won an al.nmdant reward in a financial sense. Mr. Bacon was born in Bath, Steuben county. New York, March 26, 1834, and was the .son of Noah B. and Charlotte (York) Bacon, both natives of Steuben county. His father went to \\'ahvorth coun- t\', Wisconsin, in 1843, '^''"1 later moved to White Creek, Adams county, where he pur- 454 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. chased a farm and lived there until about 1855, when he sold his land and purchased a residence in White Creek, where he re- sided until the death of his wife in 1877. He now resides with his son, E. F. Bacon, in Des Moines, Iowa, and reached his one hun- dredth birthday December 19, 1899. He possesses good health, and is able to enjoy his life. Our subject came with his parents to Wisconsin, and attended school and assisted with the work on the farm until he reached his twentieth year. He was fitted for any kind of business, and was well educated and capable. He learned the trade of black- smith, which he followed in White Creek until alxjut thirty-live years of age. He then purchased a mercantile business in that place which he conducted three years, and, on account of failing health, disposed of his business interests and purchased a farm at Point Bluff, which is now in possession of Mrs. Bacon. Mr. Bacon was married in 1855 to Caro- line Dewing, of Sugar Creek. Mrs. Ba- con died in 1861, leaving two children: Ad- dison, born in 1856, now an agriculturist of Springville township; and May L., born in 1 86 1, now ]Mrs. G. Reynolds, of Spring- ville. ]\Ir. Bacon married Mrs. Sarah L. Coulson. widow of Irani Coulson, of Au- rora, Illinois. February 17, 1864, who still survives him. Mr. Bacon was for over twelve years postmaster of the village of Point Bluff, and was an efficient and ])opular man. He served as sheriff two years, and was treas- m"er of his township and chairman of the board, serving in \arious capacities for about eighteen years. He discharged the duties of the several positions faithfully and well, and gained the confidence of the peo- ple whom he served. In political sentiment he was a Republican, and took an active part in the affairs of his party. He was public- spirited, loyal, intelligent and progressive. His death occurred April 16, 1898, and he was laid to rest at White Creek. The state and community was better for his having lived, and his career afforded a striking ex- ample of what can be accomplished by the judicious use of the traits of character which dominated his career. JOHN ROWLANDS, Deceased. The death of this gentleman, which oc- curred at his home in the town of Caledonia, Columbia county, on the 12th day of Janu- ary, 1895, depri\-ed the community of one of its most upright and respected citizens, and affords one of the saddest instances which the historian is called upon to record. Mr. Rowlands was born at Pen Bryn, Llwyn, near Llanrhaeder, Denbighshire, Wales, March 16, 1857. He was a second cousin of Henry M. Stanley, the famous Af- rican explorer, and sprang of goodly ances- tors, from whom he inherited many lofty ideals and manly qualities. His father, Ed- ward Rowlands, was a Welsh farmer, who li\'ed and died in his native land, and his mother, whose maiden name was Ann Evans, was called from earth during the in- fancy of the son. Though deprived of a mother's care, the latter enjoyed excellent schooling advantages, and learned at an early age to put the same to practical use. When sixteen years old he went to Liver- pool and secured employment in a wholesale grocery and provision establishment. Here he remained until 1880, when, owing to his father's death, he returned for a time to his former lidme. In 1881 he tirst came to America, spending the first season at De- troit, Michigan. From there he came to Wisconsin, and passed the next year in the town (if Caledonia. A few months more COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 455 were devoted to business in IMihvaukee, but in 1884 be became a permanent citizen of Columbia county, and spent the balance of his life in the improvement and cultivation of the farm which had been originally set- tled by his father-in-law, William R. Evans. He entertained the most exalted moral con- ceptions, and this fact, together with his genial manners and general stability of char- acter, rapidly won the confidence and good will of his new neighbors. He was a mem- ber of the \\"elsh Calvinistic Methodist church, and about one year previous to bis demise was appointed a deacon of that so- ciety. A Republican in principle, he did not concern himself with the distribution of political honors. October i, 1884, occurred the wedding of Mr. Rowlands with Miss Laura J. Evans, daughter of William R. and Laura Evans, of whom further notice api^ears elsewhere in this viilunie. Mrs. Rowlands, who is a lady of culture and refinement, has exhibited commendable strength of character in her untimely bereavement, and displays note- worthy tact and business capacity in the management of her farm and the rearing of her three children, who are named, respect- ively; Edward Evans, \\'illiani E. and Anna Laura. JACOB HYMAN REIGHARD, De- ceased. Jacob Hyman Reighard, deceased, was for many j^ears one of the respected and prosperous farmers of Sauk county. His home was on one of the fine farms of West- field township, and the family residence was on section 7. The estate is now conducted. by his son, Ellis W. Reighard, and has all the adjuncts of a model country home. Jacob H. Reighard was born in Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania, April 24. 1824, and was a son of Jacob and Lucy (ITyman) Reighard. His father was a blacksmith and conducted the business in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and later kept a hotel at Jer- sey Shore, Pennsylvania. He died at La Porte, Indiana, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife survived him several years, her death occurring at -La Porte, Indiana, aged over seventy years. The father was a member of the Methodist church and a man of exemplary character. Our subject attended the pulilic schools at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and after completing his education learned the ma- chinist's trade at Wheeling, West Virginia. He started a flint glass works at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he continued until the breaking out of the Civil war. In the fall of 1 86 1 he enlisted in Company G, Four- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was com- missioned first lieutenant. He spent about two years in West Virginia in opposition to the noted Confederate leader, Mosby, in the campaigns about W'inchester and Low- den Heights. He was injured by his horse falling upon him, and never fully recovered from the accident. He resigned his com- mission and was discharged from the serv- ice, antl when sufficiently recovered was en- gaged as manager of the flint glass works at Wheeling, Virginia, wherein he contin- ued his interests for a number of years. He purchased a tract of two hundred acres of wild land in Westfield township, Sauk county, W'isconsin, in 1854, and from time to time added improvements to the place, and about 1875 'i^oved onto the estate. He conducted farming and also dealt in farming implements on his place until his death. Mr. Reighard was married October 2, 1S44, at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to Caroline Dorneck, daughter of John and Mary (Palmer) Dorneck, of Lock Ffa\en. Mrs. Reigbard's father was born in Phila- delphia, and was of German or Prussian and English descent. His father was an 456 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. importer of indigo and was lost at sea while on a voyage to India. His mother bore the maiden name of EHza Wilson. ]\lrs. Reighard's father carried on the saddlery business at Salona, Pennsyh'ania, many years, and later moved to Ohio, and fr(.)m thence to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he died in 1870, aged over seventy-three years. Mrs. Reighard's mother was born in Mary- land and lived for some years in Baltimore, and died in Flushing, Ohio, early in the '60s. Mrs. Caroline Reighard was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyh'ania, March 15. .1825, and is still enjoying good health, and is active in mind and body. Mr. and Mrs. Reighard were the parents of three chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. The -only surviving child, Ellis W., now con- -ducts the homestead farm. Jacob H. Reigh- ard passed away in Westfield township, Sauk county, November 19, 1888. He was respected as an earnest worker and loyal ■citizen, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends. Ellis W. Reighard was Ixjrn at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and at the age of thir- teen years became shipping clerk in a whole- sale establishment at Pittsburg. When the Civil war broke out, although he was but fifteen years of age, he was almost a man in stature and was enthused with the Union cause. He accordingly enlisted in the Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Init his father declined his consent to his going into the service. Soon after, however, he ran away from home and in Fort Wayne, Indiana, assisted in recruiting Company A, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was entitled to a lieutenant's commis- sion, but the governor of Indiana, learning his extreme youth, refused to grant the com- mission. He soon after joined his father and spent one year in the field. After the close of the war he returned to Wisconsin, since which time he has conducted the home farm, with the exception of three years spent as bookkeeper for the wholesale hardware firm of A. J. Tucker & Company, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Reighard introduced the steam thresher into Sauk county, and continued the operation of a machine for twenty years. The farm which he now conducts covers one hundred and sixty acres and is well adapted to general farming. The family residence is situated on an eminence com- manding a charming view of Narrows Prairie, and in both exterior and interior appointments bespeaks the taste and culture of its inmates. Ellis W. Reighard was married in 1868 to Ada Holmes, daughter of Joshua and Rosy Holmes, of Sandusky, Sauk county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Reighard's father was a native of Ohio, and lier mother was born in New York. They were early settlers of Sauk county, and her father died at San- dusky in 1862, aged forty-tive years. The mother died about 1892, aged sixty-four years. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reighard, as follows: Clyde and Grace. Mr. Reighard is an active member of his community, and has held office on the school board for the paij^t sixteen years. He is a Republican in political sentiment, hold- irig the views advocated by his father. He has attended as delegate numerous county conventions and three congressional con- ventions. He is a man of broad mind and good character and highly respected in his communitv. OSCAR ATCHERSON. Oscar Atcherson, an influential and well-to-do member of the farming com- munity of Plainville township, where his COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 457 homestead is located on sections 5 and 8, is one of the early settlers of Adams county. He is from a long-lived family, who were without exception prominent citizens in the community in which they resided, and from whom he inherited the excellent character- istics which have influenced him through- out his career to the betterment of his fel- low men. Mr. Atcherson was b(jrn in Rockingham, \'ermont, September 10, 1822, and was the son of Thomas and Charlotte (Johnson) Atcherson. The father's family had resided in that vicinity since the Revolutionary war, and the mother of our subject was from Petersham, Massachusetts, where the family was well known. Our subject's father fol- lowed farming as an occupation, and came to Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1856, where he purchased land, but on account of his ad- vanced age did not actively engage in farm- ing, but lived in retirement until his death. He passed away at Plainville, February 3, 1873, aged ninety years, and his wife in Plainville August 2, 1869, aged iseventy- nine years, and both were laid to rest in Plainville cemetery. Our subject until twenty years of age attended school and worked on the farm with his father. He then went to work in the woolen factories at Cambridgeport, Ver- mont, where he learned the trade, and after- word worked in various other mills in New Hampshire and ^Massachusetts. He gave up the work at the age of thirty-three years, and having two brothers, Walter and War- ren, located at Plainville, Wisconsin, de- cided to purchase lapd and live near them. He bought one hundred and twenty acres on sections 5 and 8, and which form his present homestead. His son, John, now engages in farming the land. Mr. Atcherson enlisted March 7, 1865, at Kilbourn, Wisconsin, in the Fifty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantrv, and was de- tailed as guard on the Pacific Railroad, which v.-as then building from St. Louis to Kansas City. He. was discharged from the service August 5, 1865, at Leavenworth, Kansas. Our subject was married at Brattleboro, Vermont, January 13, 1848, to Mary A. Mixer, daughter of John M. and Olive (Richardson) Mixer, of Brattleboro, Ver- mont. Mrs. Atcherson's parents were early settlers of that vicinity, and passed away there. To Mr. and Mrs. Atcherson three children were born, as follows: Flora E., born January 29, 1852, now Mrs. J. Fo- gerty, of Tomahawk, Wisconsin; Ada A., born September 22, 1858, now Mrs. C. ISIiner, of Guilford, Vermont; John iL, born May 29, i860, now residing on the home farm. The son was married October 24, 1883, to Abbie F. Billings, of Spring- ville. Our subject is a member of John Gil- lispie Post, No. 50, G. A. R. He has held numerous township offices, and has been as- sessor, supervisor, and as an interested worker for education has served as clerk and school director for a number of years. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and is among the foremost men of his town- ship. Although seventy-eight years of age, he enjoys the best of health, is active and ix)ssessed of all his faculties. During the winter of 1898 he paid a visit to his daugh- ter in Guilford, Vermont, and spent some time visiting the scenes of his boyhood. JOHN HASEY. John Hasey, an honored pioneer and highly respected citizen of Columbus, Co- lumbia county. Wisconsin, was born in Londonderry, Vermont, April 6, 181 7, and is a son of John and Rhoda (Emmons) Hasey, also natives of Londonderry. The 458 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Hase_v family is of English origin. The paternal grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of John Hasey, was one of the pioneers of Londonderry, Vermont, having removed thither from Maine at a very early day. He aided the colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier of the Continental army during the Revo- lutionary \\ar, and the father of our subject took arms against the mother country in the war of 1812, ])articipating in the battle of Plattsburg. He was born January 10, 1794, and (lied in Columbus, Wisconsin, January 10, 1876. He came to this state in 1844 and settled in York, Dane county, be- coming one of its representative and promi- nent citizens. He was one of the leading Democrats in his community, and was a member of the general assembly from Dane county. His wife, Vv'ho was born December 22, 1792, also died at Columbus, Wisconsin, May 25, 1866. The children of this worthy couple were John, our subject; Alfred, Samuel and Austin D., all residents of Co- lumbus, except Austin D., who was killed in a railroad accident at Albany, Illinois, April 21, 1881. The subject of this sketch was a lad of eleven years when the family removed from Vermont to Genesee county. New York, and located on a farm in the town of Cov- ington, which he assisted in improving and cultivating. In 1845 he came to Wiscon- sin, and after three years spent in Dodge county, took up his residence on a farm in Columbus township, Columbia county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for ten years. Since then he has made his home in the city of Columbus, and for twenty years dealt quite extensively in grain and farm produce, since which time he has practically lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. In 1843 Mr. Hasey married Miss Al- bina S. Farnham, a native of Auburn, New York, and a daughter of Frederick Chapin and Mary (Andrews) Farnham, of Genesee county, that state. Her father, a native of Vermont, came to Wisconsin in 1857 from New York, and died in Columbus, in De- cember, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty- nine. He was also a veteran of the war of 1 81 2, and had taken part in the battle of Plattsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Hasey are active and prominent members of the Universalist church of Columbus, which they helped to organize, and he has ser\-ed as treasurer of the society for the past twenty-five years. After a useful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retirement, surround- ed by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances who esteem him highly for his sterl- ing worth. EDWARD ROSE BROWN. Edward Rose Brown, an honored vet- eran of the Civil war and a highly esteemed citizen of Portage, Columbia county, Wis- consin, was born in Lower Canada, August I, 1827, a son of David H. and Lucinda (Batchelor) Brown, natives of Pennsyl- vania and New York, respectively. The pa- ternal grandfather, Jesse Brown, a mill- wright by trade, was also born in Pennsyl- vania, while his wife was a native of Ger- many. When a young man the father went to New York, where he was married, and in 1827 removed to Canada, but after a few months spent there he took up his resi- dence in Macomb county, Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his life upon a farm near the present village of Utica, dying there in 1865, at the age of seventy-two years. He was an active member of the Baptist church and influential in local pol- itics, first as a Whig and later as a Demo- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 459 crat. He filled several offices of honor and trust. The mother of our subject tlied near Utica, Michigan, about 1834. Edward R. Brown is the imly mie in the family of six children living in Wisconsin. He received a common-school education and during his youth learned the carpenter's trade, at which he woi-ked at intervals throughout life. In 1853 he first came to Portage, Wisconsin, where he spent one winter in the pineries, and then engaged in farming in Adams county for aljmit twelve years, after which he located in Lewiston, Columbia county. Selling his property here in 1881, he went to Dakota, but not finding a suitable location he returned to Wiscon- sin. In 1884, however, he removed with his family to Walworth county, South Da- kota, where he took up a homestead claim and lived for about eight years, dividing his attention between the cultivation of grain and stock raising. Since June, 1892, he has made his home in Portage, Wisconsin, and has followed the carpenter's trade. On the 1st of October, 1864, Mr. Brown enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and with his command reached Nashville in time to take part in the battle at that place, under General Thomas, against General Hood. There the regiment was ordered to take a position one morning at daybreak in the front of the lines, but was soon afterward replaced by a colored regiment, nearly all of whom fell victims to a Confederate battery wdiich opened fire on that part of the works a few niinutes later. Tlie Forty-fourth Wiscon- sin supported Fort Negley during that en- gagement. Just previous to the battle a de- tachment of one hundred men, including Mr. Brown, were ordered to take a drove of fifteen hundred head of cattle to Pulaski, Tennessee, through a district infested by bushwhackers, but they were able to avoid them by information given by the negroes along the way. They were two weeks in reaching Pulaski, and then returned to Nashville by rail. From there the regiment went to Paducah, Kentucky, and were finally discharged in Septemljer, 1865. Mr. Brown was married Ma}' 31, 1853, to Miss Sarah C. Worden, a native of Wil- loughby, Ohio, and a daughter of Holley G. and Mary (Warner) Worden, of Portage, who came to this state in 1851. Of the eight children born to our subject and his wife four are now deceased : Ella, who died at the age of eight years ; Charles, who died at the age of five; Herbert, who died at the age of seven ; and Kinney at the age of six- teen. Those living are Albert, a resident of Walworth county. South Dakota ; and Uzell E., \\'innie M. and Hol.ley N., all of Portage. The family are connected with the Baptist church, and Mr. Brown is an honored member of the Grand Army Post of Portage, in which he has served as ad- jutant. He is independent in politics and has filled a number of local offices, serving as town clerk and assessor in Jackson, Adams county, Wisconsin ; supervisor in Lewiston, Wisconsin; and justice of the peace in Walworth county, South Dakota. He proved a very efficient and capable offi- cer and in all the relations of life has been found true to every trust reposed in him. CHARLES MARTL\. Charles Martin iis one of the leading citizens and active business men of Dell Prairie township, Adams county, wdio op- erates a well-drilling machine and deals in windmills. Until a short time ago he owned a large and well-improved farm of three hundred acres of land, forty-seven acres of which was the homestead farm and was known as the L. S. Carter place, the latter 460 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. being one of the earliest settlers of the county. Our subject improved the property and made a model farm of it, but sold it in the early spring of 1900. Mr. Martin was born in Newark, Lick- ing county, Ohio, March 29, 1854, and was the son of William and Sarah (Showman) Martin. His father moved from Maryland to Ohio, and was one of the early settlers of that state. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and in 1861 went to Elkhart, Indiana, v.'here he followed his calling until his death in December, 1864. His wife survived him twenty-five years and upon her death, July 8, 1890, was laid to rest beside her husband at Elkhart. Our subject early began to assist in the support of his mother and the family of children, but did not slight his oppor- tunities for education. He was an apt pupil and possessed a studious nature, and made use of every chance to improve his condition. At the age of nineteen years he came to Dell Prairie, Adams county, Wisconsin, and was employed by B. S. Bement, one of the prominent farmers of the county. After leaving his employ he purchased and sold land for some time, and then located on the farm mentioned above, which is situated in the best part of Dell Prairie township. Since about 1892 he has conducted a well-drill- ing, pump and windmill business, and finds all the work which two men can do. The labor and overseeing of the business calls him from home a great part of the time, and a comfortable income results from his work. Mr. Martin was married July 27, 1873, to Libbie Carter, daughter of Lyman S. and Elizabeth Carter, of Dell Prairie township, who came to this region from Pennsylvania at an early day. Mrs. Martin's parents were married February 3, 1837, in Washington county, Maryland. Her mother died May 3, 1885, and her father died August 5, 1890, and both were buried at Kilbourn, Wis- consin. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the par- ents of six children, as follows : Sarah, now Mrs. E. Barton, of Hancock, Adams county, Wisconsin; Leslie, in partnership with his father in the pump business; Lottie, Louis, Clarence and Minnie. The four yotmgest children are at home with their parents. Mr. Martin is a Democrat in political senti- ment, but does not take an active part in the movements of his party, nor accept any public offices, his business claiming his at- tention from his home district so often. He is interested in the welfare of his com- munity, and has done all in his power to further its development and is one of the upright citizens of Dell Prairie township. He has resided among the people of that vi- cinity long enough to gain from them their respect, and they willingly accord him a name as a gentleman of excellent character and business ability. His home is one of the pleasant places within that fertile dis- trict, and he has devoted much time in the improvement of his property, and he accepts advanced ideas, and uses modern methods and machinery in every available way. He \z progressive, industrious and honest, and well merits his success and good reputation. CARL SCHNEIDER. Carl Schneider, an influential and promi- nent citizen of Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, now living at Portage, in practical re- tirement, was born near Mainz, Germany, December 15, 1824, a son of John and Catherine (Stoll) Schneider. The paternal grandfather was John Peter Schneider, a farmer near Mainz, and the maternal grand- father, whose name was Stoll,was a cabinet- maker. The father, who had been a forester in the employ of the government of Hesse- Darmstadt, came to the United States in 1840, and located at New York City, but COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 461 worked at Groton Point, W'estclicster comi- ty. New York, where he lodk charge of a nursery. He (hed in Xew York City in 1853, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife passed away ni 1S51, at the age of eighty-one. Carl Schneider received a common- school education in his nati\e land and after ccming- to Xew York attended an evening school for a time, thus acquiring a good knowledge of the English language. While a \-oung man he enlisted in the Washington Rifles, Thirty-eighth Regiment Xew Y'ork Militia. His only serxdce was in garrison- ing Fort Hamilton during the absence of the regular troops in the Mexican war, and in suppressing a riot between the Catholics and Orangemen in New York Cit3^ He was employed as state inspector on the enlarge- ment of the Erie canal, near Rome, New York, and subsecjilently became foreman for the contractor. During the four years de- \oted to that enterprise he became per- sonally acquainted with Governtir Horatio Seymour and other state officers. In 1859, by the advice of the Governor, he came to Wisconsin, expecting to secure employment on the Fox and Wisconsin river improve- ments, but when he arrived in Portage the company having the work in charge had become bankrupt and work was suspended. Mr. Schneider then opened an eating house in Portage, in connection with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway sta- tion, but soon afterward the building was burned with all its contents and he lost three thousand doll.ars — his entire capital. He then pre-empted forty acres of land on the bank of Silver Lake, within the city limits of Port- age, and to the improvement of this wild tract he at once turned his attention, erect- ing substantial buildings and planting a vineyard and small fruits. He now raises considerable fruit, which he sells to the city markets. In 1848 Mr. Schneider married INIiss Lucetta Mehrhof, a native of Hesse-Darm- sladt, Germany, and a daughter of Philip and Catherine Mehrhof, of Groton Point, Xew York. She died in Portage in 1849, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving five children, namely : Catherine, now the de- ceased wife of Henry Smith, of Hacken- sack, Xew Jersey; Eliza, wife of Washburn Snow, of Portage; Amelia, wife of T. C. Cunningham, ex-secretary of state of Wis- sin, and a resident of Chippewa Falls; Isa- bel, a resident of the same city; and Charles, a railroad contluctor, who was accidentally killed at Water N'alley, Mississippi. Mr. Schneider was again married in 1859, his second union being with Elizabeth Burbach, who was born in Braunfels, Germany, and came to the United States in 1855. To them were born seven children, three sons and four daughters: William; Louise, now the wife of Andrew Kiefer, a railroad mail clerk of Portage; Lillie, wife of Rev. Hermann Breckner, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; John, who died in 1886, at the age of twen- ty-three; Louis, who died in 1895 at the age of twenty-six; Helen, a teacher of Portage, and Jessie, who died in 1885, at the age of eleven years. The children were provided with good high school educations, and Amelia, Lillie and Helen have all been suc- cessful teachers. Mr. Schneider also has ten grandchildren li\-ing. In 1863 he was app(.)inted by the United States government engineer as overseer of construction on the Wisconsin and Fox river improvements, and spent four years in that capacity, constructing dams, locks, etc., between Portage, Sauk City and Prince- ton, Wisconsin. He served as an alderman in Portage for four years, highway com- missioner two years, city marshal two years, and in 1877, ^^79 ^""^ ^^^7 had charge of the documents of the Wisconsin assembly, and held a similar position in the state sen- 4G2 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ate in 1893. He has discharged his various official duties with promptness and fitlehty and tu the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned, and his public and pri\ate life are alike above repr(iach. He is a consistent and faithful member of the Presbyterian church, while some of his family attend the German Trinity church. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor in 1848, but since the organization of the Re- publican party has been one of its stanch sup- porters, taking an active part in its work and doing all in his power to insure its suc- cess. He has learned by observation and practical experience that the prosperity of the country depends largely upon the policy of the government, in regard to revenue and has witnessed the disastrous results of a low tariff several times. He has always been a close student and extensive reader and has accumulated a well-selected library, with the contents of which he is familiar. GUS DRAGER. Gus Drager, a well-known conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and a worthy citizen of Baraboo, has made his own way in the world from an early age and now holds an honorable position with one of the greatest railroad corporations in the United States. He was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, December 25, 1864, and is a son of John and Rosa (Drager) Drager, na- tives of Germany, who came to the new world in 1850 and located near Jefferson, Wisconsin, where the father died upon his farm during the infancy of our subject. The mother died at Fort Atkinson, Wis- consin, October 20, 1896, aged seventy years. Her father, Frederick Drager, died in Jefferson, Wisconsin, about 1872, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He was acti\e and vigorous up to the time of his death. The early boyhood of our subject was spent with his [laternal grandfather and an uncle in Jefferson, anil at the age of ten years he began earning his tiwn livelihood Ity working on a farm. Three years later he entered the chain factory at Fort Atkinson, where he was employed until attaining his majority, and then secured a position as brakeman with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, with which corpora- tion he has been continued almost continu- ously since. In 1891 he was made con- ductor, and most of the time has run a train on the Madison division of the line. j\lr. Drager was married, in 1891, to Miss Nellie Niland, a daughter of Patrick and Ellen (Boyle) Niland, of Fort Atkin- S(_)n. Her parents were both nati^•es of Dublin, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1823. After living for some years in Vermont, they came to Wisconsin about 1856. The father died in Fort At- kinson, August 8, 1875, aged fifty-three years, and the mother died in the same place September 30, 1896, aged seventy-two. Mrs. Drager is a member of St. Patrick's Cath- olic church of Baraboo. Politically our sub- ject is independent, and fraternally has been a member of the Order of Railway Con- ductors since 1898. His success in life is due to his integrity of character and faithful performance of duty, and he is held in high regard by all win;) know him. MARTIN R. WOODRUFF. I Martin R. Woodruff, a native of A\-on, Hartford county, Connecticut, born April 8, 1827, is one of the pioneer settlers of Adams county, Wisconsin, and has done much to promote its growth. He is a resi- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 46B f Columbus. Mr. Hasev was reared a farmer, and finding a two-hundred- forty-acre tract of good land in Hampden ujjon the market, he bought it, and made the family home there for many years. .Vbout 1880 the family returned to Columlnis, and their residence has since been maintained in that thriving city. Three children have lieen b< .rn to this excellent couple : James, the subject of this article; George E., a mining man, whose headquarters are at Colo- rado Springs, Colorado ; and Mary Rhoda, n.ow Mrs. Erank Austin, of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs.Haseyand their children, alike, com- mand the friendship of the entire community by their strict integrity, unswerving hon- esty anil genial and hospitable spirit. They are well advanced in years and their declin- ing days are brightened by the high standing of their children and the warm regard of a host of friends. James Henry Hasey was educated at Dan\ ille, and attended the Jefferson Liberal Institute. He accompanied h'is parents when thev settled on the llam]3den farm, and when they returned to town took charge of it, presently bought it. and now owns one of the finest farms in the county. When he began farming for himself his principal capital was a stock of courage and a good name. He has not feared hard work and, being saving, out of the passing years he has won a success. He was married Oc- ti'ber I, 1879, to Miss Lizzie McBurnie, a daughter of Robert and Agnes (Wilson) McBurnie, natives of Scotland, and among the earliest settlers of Hampden. Here they lis-ed and died, leaving an enviable record of honest labor antl good name. ^Irs. Hasey"s father died August 23, 18^7, at the age of eighty-two, and her mother March 21, 1899, aged eighty-two. She has proved in every way a capable associate with her husband in the art and science of life, and is a lady of many amialile and attractive (|ualities. She is a member of a family of nine children: Mary and William are living in Hampden ; Alice is Mrs. Charles Hoton, of Columbus; Thomas is at home; Agnes married Asa Baker, ject of this writing; and Margaret, who has been dead these many years. Mr. and Mrs. Hasey are themselves the parents of four children : Ravmond, I""red, Mary Belle and George. i\Ir. Hasey i^; a -^triiiig Republican 468 COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY. and from time to time has been called t(j fill many of the town oftlces. lie has been clerk of the school board for many years, and is mnch interested in the successful ad- ministration of the educational institutic)ns of the time. He is popular in the com- munity. FREDERIC CHURCHILL CCRTIS. Frederic Churchill Curtis is amoni;' the most esteemed pioneers of the town of Lnw- ville, Columliia county, which has been his home since 1847. He is a progTessi\'e farmer and dairyman and is now li\-ing' in practical retirement from the acti\e labors of life, and has his home in the neighbor- hood known as Rocky Run. He represents the ninth generation of his family in this country, and traces his lineage throug-h Reyolutionary and colonial sources. Mr. Curtis was born in Stockhridge. Massachusetts, September 3, 1819, and is a son of Har\-ey and Fanny ( Warner) Curtis. \\'hen he was se\en _\'ears old he went to li\'e with his grandfather, Lupton Warner, who died eight years later. He was a strong and sturdy lad. and at that time felt able to take the burden of his own support upon himself. At Pittslield, Massachusetts, he learned the trade of harnessmaker. with which he subsequently combined that of saddlery and upholstery. In 1839 he went to Columbia, South Carolina, to take a posi- tion as foreman in a large saddlery estab- lishment. For a portiou of the }-ear he was to tra\'el through the south as a sales- man. In this way he spent the next seyen years, and becoming utterly disgusted with sla\-ery and the politics of the south he re- turned to Xew England in 1846. He did not intend to remain long in his nati\'e land, and the following }-ear he arrived in Wis- consin, and located in the town of Lowville. The country was yery wild at that tiiue, settlers were few and far between, but hope was high and hearts were strong. He built a log cabin, and then started back for the east, where he was engaged to be married at a certain time. Money which was due him failed to arrive, and he walked to Mil- waukee, a distance of ninety miles, and worked his way on the lakes to Buffalo. He was married, as he deser\-ed to be, and in due time returned to Wisconsin, began housekeeping on the Lowxnlle farm, which has continued to be his home to the present time. The buildings on his place are main- ly built of stone, so well and ilurably con- structed that they will long remain monu- ments to this energetic pioneer. To Mr. Curtis belongs the credit of put- ting down the first drilled well in Columbia county, and possibly the first drilled through rock in the state. It is one hundred and twenty-two feet deep. He had tools made from his own designs, and though he had ne\'er seen an}' rock drilling done, his de- signs were correct, and he n()t onl\' drilled his own wells but many others in the neigh- borhood. These tools cost him alwut twenty- h\'e dollars, a \er_\- considerable outlay in tliose days, but it was money wisely expend- ed. Mr. Curtis became in time the (.nvner of a very large estate. ]\luch of his land, liowe\er, he has sold, but still holds a farm of three hundred acres. For many years he gave active attention to dairying, and was one of the pioneers in that industry' in Co- lumbia county. He de\-ise(l a box churn, and began the manufacture of granular but- ter. He originated the idea of deep setting for raising cream, and for many years was one of the most prominent dairymen of the state. He was a frecjuent lecturer on dairy- ir.g at farm institutes and dairymen's con- \entions. He never patented any of his de- vices, Init aroused much antipathy on the part of the manufacturers of dairy goods, F. C. CURTIS. MRS. F. CMRETias. CURTIS. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 478 by his simple and clear statements of facts. The governors of the state have recog- nized his ability and standing by appoint- ing him on four different occasions to serve as representative of the state in farmers' national congresses, held at St. Paul, Min- nesota; Fort Worth, Texas; Boston, Mas- sachusetts, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a valued contributor of many farm journals, and he is a recognized authority on dairy matters. Mr. Curtis and Miss Elizabeth Lea \vere married October i8, 1847. She was a daughter of George and Eleanor ( Hollen- beckj Lea, and was a lady of much more than the usual gifts of heart and mind. She was born at Athens, New \\)rk, April 4, 1823, and died in Rocky Run February 10, 1892. Her father was a native of York- shire, England, and during the war of 1812 was pressed into the English navy. When the war was closed he was released and set- tied on a farm near Athens, New York, where he spent the rest of his life, and died at the age of eighty-four. He was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and was a gentleman of high character. Eleanor Hol- lenbeck was born in Athens, New York, and her ancestors came from Holland. Her family is one of the best known along the Hudson ri\-er. Air. Curtis is the father of five children, (jue of whom died in infancy; Anna AL is Mrs. Orx'is; Emma was the wife of the Re\'erend A. II. Carman, and dietl at Fairmont, North Dakota. Jaiuiary 10, 1899, at the age of forty-live years; Ella C. is Mrs. J. L. Farrington, uf Rocky Run; and Lizzie. He has four grandchil- dren. Mr. Curtis has been a member of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association for many 3'ears, and a lifelong member of the Colum- bia County Agricultural Society, which he helped to organize in 185 1. It is the oldest agricultural societ}- in the state, having a continuous existence. He was also a mem- ber of the old Wisconsin Agricultural So- ciety until it was disbanded. He was chair- nian of the meeting at Janesville, Wiscon- sin, September 29, 1865, that organized the State Horticultural Society. He is a Demo- crat, and was nominated for state senator i:i 1856, and, though not elected, reduced the Republican majority alxnit one-half. For several years he was on the county board, and served as chairman on se\'eral occasions, though a large majority of the members were opposed to him in jjolitics. As noted aliove, the Curtis family has been native to the soil of America for many generations. The first representative of the family on this side of the ocean was Henry Curtis. He was born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, in 1621, and came to New Eng- land in 1643. He was the first person to be buried at Northampton, Massachusetts, where he died November 30, 1661. He married Elizabeth Abel in 1645, and his de- scendants in a direct line were (2) Nathan- iel; (3J Samuel, who married Lois Went- worth; (4) Elnathan, who bore the title of major; (5) Abel, who served in the Revo- lutionary army as a private, and died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1829, in the eighty-ninth year of his age; (6) Harvey, v.ho was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and died in Canaan, New York, September 5. 1852; and (7) F. C. Curtis, the subject of this sketch. The mother of (.)ur suliject, Fanny War- ner, was a direct descendant of Elder Brewster, wlii.) came o\er in the famous "Mayflower," antl wrote the compact which became the constitution of the new colonv. He died at Duxbur^• Massachusetts. ( 2 . Jonathan Brewster commanded at Sa\-- brook, Connecticut; (3) Benjamin; (4) Ruth, the wife of Thomas .Vdgate; (5) Matthew Adgate; (6) Lucy Adgate mar- ried Thomas Lord; (7) Anne Lord mar- 474 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ried Lupton Warner; (8) Fanny Warner married Harvey Curtis. She was born at Canaan, New York, and died there March 31, 1 86 1, at the age of seventy-one years. Joseph Lord represented the fifth genera- tion of his family in America. He was a descendant of Thomas Lord, who was born in England in i ^85. Rexerend Benjamin Lord, the father of Joseph, was a clergy- man, and was in the sacred desk on Sunday morning when the news of the battle of Lexington reached the church. Instead of a sermon he gave a patriotic address. Jo- sepli Lord was also a descendant of Governor John Haynes and Governor George Wyllis, of Connecticut. Lupton Warner represented the sixth generation of his family in Amer- ica, his ancestor, William Warner, coming from England, and settling in Ipswich, ^^Lts- sachusetts, in 1637. He was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1758, and was taken to Canaan, New York, when only four years old. He served in the Revolution- ary war as a member of the organization of "Minute Men." His second wife, Polly Beecher, was an aunt of the famous Henry Ward Beecher. A nephew of Mr. Curtis, Dr. Fred C. Curtis, of Albany, New York, has attained a world-wide reputation among medical men as an expert on numicipal and state health. He, some years ago, in a re- port to the governor and legislature of New York, pointed out plainly the causes of ty- phoid fever at Port Jervis, and the remedy therefor, and his advice being followed at that and other points, the methods proved eminently successful. He was a ward of Hon. David Davis, of Illinois, senator and supreme judge, who took great pains with the young man's education, and was reward- ed by seeing his ward attain a very high place in his chosen profession. Portraits of Mr. Curtis and his most es- timable and honored wife are presented upon pages of this volume elsewhere, and will be highly appreciated by their large circle of friends and acfjuaintances throughout the state. HON. BENJAMIN GREENE PAD- DOCK, Deceased. Young men in the past have often been deterred from devoting theiuselves to a business life Ijecause of the wide-spread impression that such a life yields no op- portunity for the display of genius. The time, however, has gone by when, other things being equal, the business man takes secondary place to the lawyer, doctor, min- ister or editor. In fact, as a rule, let the business man be equally equipped by edu- cation and natural endowment and you will find lum to-day in every community exert- ing a wider influence and wielding a larger power than a man of equal capacity treatling other walks of life. The "men of affairs" have come to be in a large degree the men upon whom the country leans. The subject of this sketch was pre-eminently a "man of affairs." Mr. Paddock, who had long been a resi- dent of La\-alle, Sauk county, Wisconsin, was born in Vienna, Oneida county. New York, Novemljer 10, 18^7, and was a son of Daniel and Louise (Eggleston) Paddock, who spent their entire lives there, the father being engaged in business as a carijenter and joiner and also manufacturing wagons to some extent. He was quite a successful and prominent business man and served as jus- tice of the jjcace at \'ienna for many years. 'I'he Paddock family is of English origin and was founded in this country about 1630 by three brothers, one of whom settled in New England, the second in the mid- dle states, and the third in the south. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was a soldier of the Revolution- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 475 ary war and lost a leg in the service. I'.oth g-randfather John D. Paddock and grandfather Eggleston were fanners of Oneida county, New York. Our subject comjjleted his education by two or three years' attendance at the Whitesboro Seminary, and began his busi- ness career as a clerk in a store first at IMc- Connellsville and later at Vienna and Clin- ton, New York. Coming to Sauk county, \\'isconsin, in 1858, he embarked in mercan- tile business on his own account at Ironton, as a member of the firm of Keith, & Pad- dock. 7 hey purchased a store which had been established there three years before, and for several years conducted the only store at that place, remaining in business there for eighteen years and hauling all their goods by wagon from Kilbourn, a distance of eighteen miles. In 1873, when the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railroad was built through the county, they opened another store at La\alle, and for some time con- ducted both. The firm dissolved partner- ship in 1876 and divided their property, which, besides their stores, included several farms. For some years they had operated stave mills at Reedsburg and Lavalle, and since 1872 ]\Ir. Paddock had purchased railroad ties for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company at Lavalle, handling many thousands annually. His son, H. E. Paddock, now conducts the store at that place and enjoys a liberal patronage. On the loth of January, 1859, Mr. Paddock married Miss Harriet Ives, a daughter of Silas T. and Selinda (Beach) Ives, of Clinton, New York, where the fa- tlier conducted a meat market for many years. The mother was a native of Con- necticut. Our, subject and his wife had three children: Cora Luella, wife of Rich- ard Tennant, Jr., of Woodland township, Sauk county; Herbert Eugene, who is now connected with the store at Laxalle; and Car- rie Marie. The children have all been pro- vided with excellent school privileges, and the daughter is an artist of considerable talent, especially as an amateur photog- rapher. Mr. Paddock was a member of Reeds- burg Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Reedsburg Chapter, R. A. M. ; St. John's Command- ery K. T., and Wisconsin Consistory, Val- ley of Milwaukee, and has filled all the chairs in the blue lodge. Since supporting John C. Fremont for the presidency, in 1856, he was ever a stalwart RepubKcan, but for- merly was a"SiIas Wright Demccrat"while in New York. For a number of years he served as postmaster at Ironton, and later filled the same office at Lavalle. He was sheriff of Sauk county for two years from January, 1871 : and in 1889 ably represented his dis- trict in the state legislature. He proved a most efficient and popular official, who discharged his various duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity worthy of all commenda- tion. His career had ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of his fel- low citizens, and he stood deservedly high in business, political and social affairs. He died March 2, 1900, at his home in La- valle. MARTIN G. SPERBECK, Deceased. In the death of this gentleman Adams county lost a worthy citizen and excellent business man and farmer. Pie had resided in the vicinity of Plainville township for over a cjuarter of a century, and his estate, upon which he passed his last days, was a model one, and evidenced careful manage- ment and painstaking care. He had erect- ed a commodious residence, in which he and his family were to enjoy the comforts of a home, when the angel beckoned him to the great beyond, ar.d he [lassed away fi-om their 476 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. midst. He was well known throughout the county and surrounding country as a man of excellent ability, genial nature and mental strength. Mr. Sperbeck was born in Fairport, Monroe county, N. Y., August 24, 1834, and was the son of John and Betsy Sperbeck, of New York. He went to Michigan at the age of twenty years, where he engaged in the lumber business, and came to Wiscon- sin about 1865, again eng'aging in the handling of lumlter. The greater part of liis life passed in the lumber woods of Michigan and Wisconsin, antl for ten years he was in the employ of the Goodyear Lum- ber Company, of Marathon county, and had the entire supervision of the large interests of that company. His services were of the greatest value to the company, and his judg- ment displayed in the handling of the men under his supervision was remarkable, tie was liked by all with whom he came in con- tact, and had an ease of manner when deal- ing with employer and employe alike. He purchased a farm of one Innnlred acres in Plainville townsliii) in the spring of 1885. on which he erected commodious and sub- stantial dwellings and barns, and otherwise improved the proi)erty. The land was cleared for cultivation and the farm fur- nishes an ideal home. In ]86o our subject was married ti> Sybil Carter, daughter of Lyman S. Carter, of Dell Prairie, Wisconsin. Thev lived to- gether until 1878, when she died at the age of thirty-six years. They had no children. Our subject was married, April 24, 1879, to Lottie L. Atcherson, daughter of Thomas LI. and Lorenda (Stoddard) Atcherson, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire. jMrs. Sper- beck's parents came to Wisconsin in 1853, locating at Plain\'ille, Adams count}-, wjiere her father was known as one of the nn.ist progressive farmers of the vicinity. He died suddenly April 7, 1885. and was buried at Plainx'ille. The mother of Mrs. Sper- beck still survives, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. M. G. Sperbeck, of Plainville. She is remarkabh' active, although she has reached the advancetl age of eighty-five years, and is in the full en- joyment of her physical and mental facul- ties, and is even able to read without tlie aid of glasses. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sperbeck, as follows : x\lva, born May 27, 1880; and Fred, born April 8, 1883. Both are at home and are gaining a liberal education. Mrs. Sperbeck resides on the homestead, and for the past seven years has had charge of the postofhce of Plain\-ille. Mr. Sperbeck's death was caused by heart disease, and occurred .\u- gust 24, 1888, aged fifty-four years. He I'lad just reached the meridian of life and was preparing to enjoy his declining years w hen the fatal stroke came. He was a prom- inent memlier of the Masonic fraternity, which order conducted his burial, mem- liers attending from the lodges at Tomah, Sparta and Kilbourn. Lie had taken the Kniglit Temjjlar degree, was a mem- ber of the Consistory, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He li\ed an honorable and upright life, and had a host of friends, who mourned his death and felt a personal sense of loss. MILO G. TLXKER. Milo G. Tucker, a highly-esteemed citi- zen and able business man of Pardeeville, has become thoroughly identified with the enterprise and thrift of Columbia county, b.aving been a resident there for ovev thir- tv-fi\e vears. He was born in Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Novem- ber 8. 1843. ^"'l ^^"'is a son of Daniel G. and Eunice E. (Nye) Tucker. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 477 The grandfatlier of our subject, Ephraim Tucker, was a native of Connecticut, and was a man of remarkaljle meclianical in- genuity. He died at Dalton, Massacliusetts, at the age of sixty-six years. Tlie father of our subject came to Wisconsin in 1866 and settled in the town of Spring\'ale, near the "Slab School House," where he lixxil for some years. He was a successful farmer and possessed remarkal)le executi\'e ability. His death occurred at I'ox I^ake, W'iscnnsin, in February, 1891, when he had readied the age of seventy-si^ years. The mcther of our subject was born in the town of Colerain, Franklin county, Massachusetts, and was a daughter of Daniel Nye, who was a wealthy farmer of his day. He died at Dalton, Massachusetts, at the age of sixty- eight years. Our subject's mother died Oc- tober 17, 1866, aged forty-five years antl two months. ■ Milo G. Tucker attended the ilistrict school at Dalton, Massachusetts, and also a. select school and academy at Jonesville, New York, and later completed a commer- cial course at Eastman's Business College a! Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in 1864. He taught in Berkshire Hills, at the age of seventeen years, antl in 1866 came to Wisconsin. He taught both the district and g-raded schools of Pardeeville and Cambria for several years and about 1871 entered the employ of E. M. Harney in the compilation of county maps. He assisted in making maps and atlases of several coun- ties in Wisconsin and later became a part- ner in the business and spent about ten years at this work. For some years past he has conducted a fire-insurance business in connection with other business and en- joys the largest business of the kind in Par- deeville. He is notary pubhc and conducts a life insurance, real estate and loan business. Our subject was married October 22, 1868, to Mary E. Briggs, a daughter of Jo- seph and Margaret (McGinley) Briggs. Mrs. Tucker's father was born near Fred- erick City, Maryland, and came to Wiscon- sin in 1852. He was closely identified with the history of old Fort Winnebago and was a master mechanic in the line that he repre- sented and died at Eau (Claire, Wisconsin, in 1884, aged seventy-six years. Her mother was of Sc(jtch lineage, and was a daughter of John and Mary I-llizaljeth McGinley. Mrs. Tucker's mother tlied at Medina, Ohio, at the age of thirty-one years. Mrs. Tucker was born at Pittsl)urg, Pennsylvania, and came to Wisconsin about 1852. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, Louis J., who is a prominent teacher of Co- lumbia county and the state. He was assist- ant sergeant at arms in the Wisconsin state Republican convention in 1900. Mrs. Tucker had three brothers in the Union army during the Civil war, one of whom, James, was killed at the battle of Antietam. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and takes an active interest in all work pertaining to that organization. Our subject and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of wdiich denomina- tion Mr. Tucker has been a member since he was fourteen years of age. He is an active worker in that church and is a man of ex- emplary character and most highly honored by his fellows. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincijln on his twenty-first birth- day in 1864. He has filled the important ofifices in Wyocena township, and is a mem- ber of Pardee Lodge, A. F. & A. M. GEORGE DEAVOLD APPEL. George Deavold Appel is a prominent farmer of Sauk county, Wisconsin, now liv- ing retired near Reedsburg. Although born 478 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. on the otlier side of the Atlantic, he is thor- oughly American in thoug'ht and feeling, and that he is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes was manifest hy his service in the Uni(;in army during the Civil war. He \vas Ijorn near Stras- burg, Bavaria, Germany, March 29, 1841, a son of Deavold and Maria Elizabeth (Fotn"e) Appel. The father was also born near the same place and was drowned in the Rhine in 1848. For thirty years or more he served in the French army, being an officer part of the time, and he was with Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo, where he was shot through both legs. After his recovery he was employed as drill master, etc., in Italy and elsewhere. The paternal grandfather of our subject also served as an officer in the French army most of his life. The mother was born in France, just across the Rhine from Strasburg, Ger- many, and was a daughter of a farmer. She came to tlie United States in 1849, ^'''^^ died the same year in I^ennsylvania, at the age of sixty-six years. George D. Appel, of this review, is the youngest in a family of ten children, two of whom were drowned in Germany, but the others all came to America. He was in his ninth year when the family crossed the ocean and took u\) their residence in Ly- coming county. I-'ennsylvania, where he continued to reside until after the opening of the Civil war. In October, 1862, he of- fered his services to his adopted country, enlisting in Company I-C, Seventeenth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the department of the Mississippi, under command, first, of General McPher- son and, later, of General Blair, of the Sev- enteenth Army Corps. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and was with Sher- man on his Atlanta campaign. After the capture of .\tlanta he was on detached duty guarding a wagon train from Iluntsville to Atlanta, and in a skirmish with Confeder- ate cavalry about twentv miles from the latter city, he was knocked from a wagon by a bursting shell and the wagon passed over his body. He was first sent to the hos- pital at Louisville, Kentucky; later to New Albany and Evansville, Indiana; was next transferred to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri ; and from there to Madison, Wis- consin, where he was finally discharged on account of disability in March, 1865. He has ne\-er fully recovered from his injuries, which still occasion him considerable suffer- ing- In the fall of 1868 Mr. Appel settled on a farm in Washington township, Sauk coun- ty, where he successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until the fall of 1892, when he rented the place and has since li\ed re- tired from active labor in the suburbs of Reedsburg. He was a thorough and sys- tematic farmer and prosperity crowned his well directed efforts. On the 2 1st of Ajjril, 1866, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Appel and Miss Miranda Grover, who was born in Carding- ton, Morrow county, Ohio, though then a part of Delaware county, and came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 1861. Of the three children born of this union, one died in childhood. Those living are Ldysses S., who is now engaged in farming on the homestead in Washington township. He married Lucy Sutton, who died at the birth of their first child in 1 89 1. He again married in 1895, his second wife being Miss Pearl Stroud. They have two children, Florence Lucile and George Irving: and Florence N., hving with her parents. Mrs. Appel's parents were William and Maria Grover, and the father, who was a farmer and shoemaker by occu- pation, died in Morrow count}', Ohio. Later the mother came to AVisconsin, and passed away in fronton township, Sauk county, in December, 1872. at the age of fift3'-two COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 479 years. Her grandfather, John Rol)inson, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, came to this country in colonial days and fought for American independence in the Revolution- ary war. He died at Pompey, New York, \\lien nearly eighty-eight years of age. His father participated in the trouhles between England and Scotland. \\'hile a younsj- iTian he had been a fellow student of one of the oiificers of the British army, and as a token of their peri)etual friendship they e.K- changed rings. This officer commanded an expedition sent to capture hini, but he es- caped by chmbing from the window into a treetop nearby, and his famil\- were spared r.pon exhibiting the ring. Mrs. Appel and her daughter are earnest members of the Presbyterian church, and the latter is connected with the Daughters of the Revolution. Socially our subject holds membership in the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar Mason ; also be- longs to the Knights of Malta and the Grand Army of the Republic ; and for some years was also connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Most of his life he has afBliated with the Republi- can party, but of recent years he has voted independently. He has been called upon to fill nnmerous township offices of honor and trust, and as justice of the peace usually suc- ceeded in prevailing upon litigants to settle their differences without recourse to law. In this way he lost many a fee, but gained what is far more valuable — the friendship and esteem of his fellow citizens. J. MONROE BUSHNELL. J. Jklonroe Bushnell, a leading and in- fluential citizen of Wyocena, Columbia county, represents one of the pioneer fam- ilies of that village, and one which has been instrumental in moulding much of the public sentiment prevailing there. Our subject was born near the village of \\S'ocena, Columbia county, W^isconsin, July 14, 185 1, and was a son of Daniel Spencer and Sarah Ann (Brown) Bush- nell. His father was a native of Waitsfield. Vermont. His ancestors, h'rancis and Maria PiUshnell, left London in the ship "Planter" in June, 1635, and settled near Saybrook, Connecticut. Our snbject represents the eighth generation (jf their descendants. Their p(_)sterity is widely scattered at the present time. Am(_)ng those who have achieved distinction may be named Governor Bushnell, of Ohio, and Rev. Asa Bushnell, a noted Presbyterian divine of Saybrook, Connecticut. Members of the family were in the Revolutionary war. The grandfa- ther of our subject, Francis Bushnell, served in the war of 181 2. He was then living near Ticonderoga, New York, and heard the firing while in church and with other members of the congregation seized his musket and joined in the c<5nflict. He was a sailor in early life and, later, a farmer, and he reared a famil_y of eight sons and three daughters. Fie attained the age of over eighty-two years. Two sons, Daniel S. and William B., became residents of Wyocena, Wisconsin. The father of our subject left home at the age of twenty years and went to Jefferson county. New York, and from thence in 1848 drove overland to Walworth cc)untv, W'isconsin, taking his wife and four children thither. In the fall of 1848 he settled at Wyocena, where he spent the bal- ance of his life. He died September 8, 1887, aged eighty- four years. He was a successful farmer of thrifty habits and was a stanch Republican from the organization of the party. He was reared in the Presby- terian faith, but when a young man became a Universalist and assisted in the organiza- tion of the Universalist Society at Wyocena and contributed to the sui)|)ort of that de- nomination until his death. The mother of 480 COMPISNDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. our subject died April 13, 1894, aged sev- enty-three years. She was 1)orn in Shingle Creek, St. Lawrence county, New York, and was a daughter of William Brown, pro- prietor of a saw-mill there. Our subject's father was twice married, his first wife being Ann Rogers, who died in Jefferson county, New York, leaving three children, who were as follows: Charles R., now residing in Santa Cruz, California, and is a retired civil engineer; Ophelia, who became the wife of Amasa Carpenter, and died at the age of twenty-eight years ; Maroa, now Mrs. L. J. Smith, of Pardeeville, Wisconsin. The following are the children of the second mar- riage: J. Monroe, our subject; Clovis died in 1864, while in the U. S. service in Com- pany B, Fortieth Wisconsin \'olunteer In- fantry, of typhoid fever at ]\Iemphis, Tennessee; Marietta, now Mrs. G. W. James, of Neillsville, Wisconsin ; and Ella widow of N. B. Mains, of Abbottsford, Wis- consin. J. Monroe Bushnell attended the public schools at Wyocena and spent some time in the Oshkosh Normal School and at the age of sixteen years went west and spent four years in travel, and afterward resumed his studies at Oshkosh and then taught about six years, four years in Columbia county, and was principal at Wyocena, Ran- dolph and Poynette successively. He spent four years as a contractor on the construc- tion of the C. M. & St. P. R. R., in Min- nesota and Dakota, and also on the B C. R. & N. R. R. He spent one year in mer- cantile pursuits in Cannon Falls, Minnesota ; since the fall of 1889 he has spent most of the time as traveling representative for a firm of manufacturing stationers, and has traveled through Wisconsin and also in other states. He owns the original home- stead farm and has made other investments in real estate. Our subject was married June 12, 1874, to Jennie M. Scott, a daughter of Samuel and Caroline Scott, of Rio, Wisconsin. Mrs. Bushnell died June 5, 1880, aged twenty- seven \ears. She was a member of the Uni- \ersalist church of Wyocena. Mr. Bush- nell was married to Ida A. Westcott Feb- ruary 28, 1884. Mrs. Bushnell is a daugh- ter of A. J. and Celia A. Westcott, of River Falls, \Visconsin. She was born in St. Law- rence county. New York. Mr. Bushnell is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is the state consul for Wis- consin. He is also a member of the Rio Lodge, No. 43, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also Fulton Lodge, No. i, of Fulton, Illinois, of the Mystic Workers of the World. He is serving his second term as chairman of the town board of Wyocena and in political matters of the Republican party takes a hearty interest and has been delegate twice to state conventions of his party. SHELDON W^\TSON RUDD, Deceased. Sheldon \\'atson Rudd, deceased, for- merly of Reedsburg, was for many years one of the most prominent and respected citizens of Sauk county. He w^as born in Willough- by. Lake count}', Ohio, March 2, 1828, and passed to his rest February 8, 1900. Within these limits is measured a noble life. He was the son of David and Julia (Bo3'ce) Rudd. They were married in Ohio, though both were natives of Massachusetts, aiid brought to the making of their western home the thrift and character of the east. They were intelligent and public-spirited, inter- ested in every move and measure that made for the general good. The paternal Rudd was born at Beckett, Massachusetts, and was of Scotch lineage. He came west when a young man, and was one of the pioneers of the W^illoughby settlement, where he lived SHELDOH WATSOH RUDD. (Deceased ) COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 483 on a farm and did mucli to lielp in the trans- formation of tlie wilderness into a gartlen of civilisation. lie removed ttj this slate in NS54. and settled on a farm near the present city of Reedshnrg, and there he lived until his death in 1865. at the ripe old age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Julia Rudd survived her husband some seven years, and died in 1S72. She was born in Blanford, Massa- cliuselts, and when quite young was brought by her parents to Lorain county, Ohio, 'iiiere her father, David Boyce, spent the remaining years of his life, and died when o\-er eighty years of age. He served in the American army during the war of 1812, and was always a good neighbor and an upright man. Sheldon Watson Rudtl spent his early life on the Ohio farm, and grew to man- hood under the parental eye. \\'hen he reached the age of twenty-one he left the old h(3mestead to seek his fortune in what was then the w'ild and unbroken regions of Wisconsin. He drove seven head of cattle through from Ohio to Walworth county, in the southeastern part of the state, where he traded his cattle for two yoke of oxen. He had made the long journey on horseback, and showed a sturdy physique and a ready mind. He found a home in Sauk county, w here he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Excelsior township. Here was his home for many years, and here he made a name as a model farmer and an honorable man. Following his coming to this state he spent the greater part of three years in charge of a crew of loggers at Kudd's Mills, getting out timbers for the mills at that point under the charge of his brothers. Air. Rudd was a gallant soldier in the Union army, and did good service in the great struggle for liberty and the Union. He enlisted February 20, 1864, and was with the Army of the Potomac until the great Rebellion was finally crushed. He was assigned to Company B, Thirty-sixth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and joined his ciimmand at the close of the liattle of Sixitt- syhania. He participated in every subse- quent engagement in which his regiment luire a hand, and made a good record. He was in the closing scenes at Appomattox, and with swelling heart marched in the Grand Review at Washington. He was one of seven men wdio enlisted in Madison on the same day, and of these seven three were killeil, one badly wounded, one died in the rebel prison, and one from disease. Mr. Rudd wiis the only one of the seven who re- turned home ali\e and uninjured. Mr. Rudd was married in March, 1858, to Miss Ann Tator, of Reedsburg. She was born in New York, and her father died at Delavan, Wisconsin, during her childhood. After his death her mother settled in Reeds- burg. Mrs. Rudd died in August, 1864. She was a member of the Congregational church, and left two children : Louis D., an extensive farmer of Excelsior township, and Julia L, formerly a stenographer in the ofifice of Governor Scofield, of Madison, now the wife of J. W. Hill, of Richland Center, Wis- consin. Mr. Rudd's second marriage was made in 1871 with Miss Emily Cady, of Buchanan. She died in 1884, leaving one son, Harry. He passed away in 1894, at the early age of twenty-two. Mr. Rudd was conspicuous for his genial disposition and affable manners, and took a prominent part in public affairs. He was deeply interested in religious matters, and helped to found the Congregational church ol I\eedsburg, to which he was always a liberal contributor. Li 1893 he sold his farm and moved into the city to spend his remaining years. He was a member of the H. A. Tator Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, named in honor of his wife's brotlier, a gallant member of the Nineteenth 484 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Wisconsin \"ulunteer Infantry. Mr. Riuld was an ardent Republican and a devoted friend of education. He held various im- portant local offices, and for two years was chairman of Excelsior township. Long will he be remembered by a host of friends for his many admirable qualities and kindly spirit. A portrait of him appears on another page of this volume. FRANCIS MARIOX ROUS. The calling to which this gentleman has devoted his attention is one of the honorable pursuits of men, and he has made a suc- cess through the exercise of the characteris- tic features of the vocation, perseverance, honesty, industry and kindness. His home is situated on section 20, in Monroe town- ship, and Adams county can boast no pleas- anter home or better improved farm. Mr. Rous was born in Otsego county, New York, May 10, 1854, and was the son of Israel C. and Margaret (Gardner) Rous. His father was a cooper by trade and also followed farming. He worked at his trade in Lawrence, New York, and in 1856 came to Adams county, Wisconsin, and located in Preston township. He purchased two hun- dred acres of wild land, and now has about one hundred acres under cultivation. He was among the earliest settlers of the town- ship, and still resides on his homestead, and er.gages in general farming. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and enjoys good health, while his estimable wife is eighty-three years of age, and is pos- sessed of good health. Eight children were born to them, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth. Francis M. Rous attended school and later assisted his father on the farm until he reached his majority, when he moved into Big Flats township, and engaged in farm- ing there about three years. He then re- moved to Monroe township, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on sec- tion 20, which is his present home. He has about hfty acres under cultivation and has erected a substantial and commodious dwell- irg and barns, and engages in general farm- ing. His farm is nut among the largest in the vicinity, but for its size is one of the best, and a \-isit to the estate would at once con- vince one of his thrift and the care exercised in its management. Mr. Rous was married February 22, i-S^T,, to Charlotte Gleason, daughter of Ira and Eunice Gleason, of Monroe township. Ira Gleason was a farmer and removed with his family from Cattaraugus county, New "^'ork, to Adams county in the winter of 1856. He settled down to farming, in which he prospered and continued during his life. He died in 1864, his wife preceding him to the grave three years. They had three chil- dren : Charlotte, Harriet and Eunice. The father married a second wife, Mary Bassett, by whom he had two children, Ira E. and Mariette. Mr. and Mrs. Rous are the par- ents of seven children, as follows : Charles L., residing in Mellon, Wisconsin; Clement R.; E. Winifred; Edna AI. ; B. Harry; Nye M.; and Mattie A, Mr. Rous is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is at present clerk of the Spring Creek Lodge of that order. In political faith he is a Republican and takes an active part in the affairs of his party, and has attended as delegate numer- ous conventions of the p^frty. He has hlled various offices of trust in his township, and is at present chairman of the township board, and has been clerk, aside from other positions. He wields an influence for good which is felt throughout his county, and his name would frequently occur in a his- tory of that vicinity. He is ever looking to the better interests of his communitv, and, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 485 xilthougli lie does not seek public i^.\or, is well known and enjo}-s an excellent reputa- tion. JAMES E. JONES. James E. Jones, editor and proprietor of the "Kilbourn Mirror-Gazette," is a man of prominence in his profession. He was born in Lynchburg, A'irginia, in 1849, and was the son of Archibald ]\I. and Susan M. (Daly) Jones. James E. Jones was the youngest of a family consisting of three sons and three daughters, and attended school at Lynch- burg and other places in his native state. He enlisted in September, 1864, in Company C, Second Colorado, at Kansas City, where ]ie had gone for the purpose of enlistment. He served about one year on garrison duty and frontier service in Kansas and Arkan- sas. In December, 1866, he enlisted at St. Louis, in the regular army, serving hve years in the Third L'^nited States Cavah}- Band, playing different instruments. He spent six more years in government topo- graphical work, covering all states and ter- ritories from the Missouri river t» the Pa- cific coast. He then went to Chicago, where he engaged in journalism, as proof reader on the "Daily News" for some time, and at other special work on different journals, and in 1884 came to Kilbourn, and estab- lished the "Mirror-Gazette," which he has since published. The "Mirror" was estab- lished in 1856, in the first building ever erected in the town. The paper flourished for a time, and when our subject took charge of it and became proprietor he revived it and soon after combined it with the "Ga- zette." It has a wide-spread circulation, and is considered one of the brightest exchanges of the newspai)er world. Mr. Jones is orig- inal in his writing and possesses a remark- able degree of distinctiveness of thought and language, and many of his articles are copied by leading journals of the state and nation. Our subject was married in 1888 to Anna Bauer, daughter of Fred and Helen Bauer, of Kilbourn. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones upon whom they have bestowed the name of Vera. Mr. Jones has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for a number of years, and takes an active part in the affairs of that denomination, and especially the choir work. He is active and prominent in secret society circles, holding membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, and John Gillespie Post, No. 51, G. A. R. In the last named he was commander three years, adjutant six years and chief of staff for the department of Wisconsin for two years, and an aide on the national staff for one year under Com- mander Weissert, of Milwaukee. He is ever ready to promote any movement for the ad- vancement and upl.iuilding of the town of Kilbourn and his county and state, and just ly occupies a prominent place in the minds of the people of Columbia county. AMOS COTTINGTON. Amos Cottington was for many years one of the leading and representative farm- ers of Winfield townsliip, Sauk county, \Vis- consin, but is now retired from the active labors of life and is enjoying a well earned rest. He was Ixjrn in Sussex, England, De- cember 14, 1838, and is a son of Jesse and Rebecca (Forward) Cottington, also na- tives of Sussex, who were among the most esteemed pioneers of Sauk county. On crossing the Atlantic in 1841 the family first settled in Madison county, New York. In his native land the father followed farming, making a specialtv of hop culture, in which 486 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. branch of agriculture lie continued to en- gage during his residence in Xew York. In October, 1851, he came to Sauk county, Wis- consin, and settled on section 26, \\'infield township. To him is due the credit of hav- ing first introduceil the culture of hops in this county. The next year after his ar- rival here he imported roots from Water- ville, New York, and cultivated the crop successfully for manii- years, both before and after the crisis in the market, which oc- curred in 1868. ^lany (jf the first hop yards in the vicinit}' are propogated from roots Vvhich he furnished. He also gave some at- tention to improving the wild hops which grew in profusion about the woods, but did not obtain satisfactory results therefrom. Besides his own crops, he dealt more or less in hops and filled large contracts at Port- age and Madison, the price fluctuat- ing from six to sixty cents per pound. He was a prominent man in his community. a stanch Republican in politics and filled the principal offices in W'infield township. He died at Webster City, Iowa, May 26, 1893, aged seventy-seven years, but his wife, who was born in Ticehurst, Sussex, England, May 26, 181 5, is still living in Reedsburg and is cjuite active for one of her years. In the family of this worthy couple were four sons and three daughters, of whom three sons, including our subject, were sol- diers of the Civil war. Levi, now a resi- dent of Webster City, Iowa, was a member of Company F, Third Wisconsin Ca^'alry Jeremiah P., of Dallas, Brown county, Wis- con, enlisted in 1861, in Company B, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, later known as the Fourth Cavalry, and served all through the struggle. The other son is Robert, a physician of Bloomer, AVisconsin ; and the daughters were Mrs. Hannah Ellinwood; Agnes, who married O. F. Gregory and died in Carthage, Missouri, and Mrs. Mary Spaulding, of Webster Cit)', Iowa. Amos Cottington came with his parents to Sauk count}-, Wisconsin, in 1855, and was reared in much the usual manner of farmer lads in his day. He recei\-ed l)ut linnted ed- ucational advantages, but always made the most of his opportunities and has become a well-informed man. He purchased a farm adjoining his father's, where he still owns one hundred anti sixty acres, having sold a forty-acre timber tract which formerly be- longed to it. For many j-ears he was a \-ery strong, robust man, Init was injured Ijy the kick of a horse several years since, which finally resulted in the amputation of his right foot. On the 3d of December, 1862, Mr. Cot- tington was united in marriage with Miss Elmira M. Fish, who was born in Albany county. New York, July 19, 1836, and died January 17, 1896. Her parents were Elisha and Polly (King) Fish, the former also a native of Albany county, N. Y., and a mem- ber of the Society of Friends. Her mother lived to the advanced age of ninety years and twenty da}-s. To our subject and his wife were born two children : Orna E., of Win- field township; and Edna E., now ^Mrs. C. S. Powell, of the same township. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Cottington enlisted in Company F, Fifty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the ser- vice until hostilities ceased. He is now a member of H. A. Tator Post, G. A. R., and the Modern Woodmen Camp at Reedsburg, in both of which he has held office, and has been a life member of the Sauk County Ag- ricultural Society at Baraboo for many years past. In his religious views he is liberal and in political sentiment is an ardent Re- publican, taking an active and prominent part in the work of his party and serving as a delegate in many of its county conventions. As one of the popular and influential citi- zens of his community he has been honored with several oflicial positions; has serx-ed as COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY '48 7 chairman of the town of \\'infield for many years : as school treasin-er twenty-eight con- secutive years ; and a meml:)er of the United States jury at Madison for several terms. As a citizen he has always l)een true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, so that his loyalty is above question, being man- ifest in davs of peace as well as when he fol- lowed the old Hag to victory on southern battle fields. HUGH DONNELLY. Hugh Donnelly, an influential and lead- ing citizen of Springville township, Adams county, has earned his present prosperity by his energy, natural business ability, and his honesty and fairness in all his dealings. For more than a third of a century he has oc- cupied his present homestead, anil to him as much as to any other man is due the develop- ment of Adams county. ]\lr. Donnelly was Ijorn in Lexington, Ohio, June nth or 13th, 1830. His par- ents, John and Sarah (O'Neill) Donnelly, v/ere natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to the United States in 181 2, taking up their residence in Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. They followed farming, and in about the year 1830 moved to Oliio. They died in that state in the city of Lexington. Hugh Donnelly was the first born of a family of four children. He remained at h.ome working for his father until he was twenty-three }-ears of age. He obtained a fair common school education, which he has extended l)y reading and observation. Up- on leaving home Hugh Donnelly worked for some time in the quarries at Lancaster, Oliio, and afterward for the Central Ohio Railway ConiDany for about' four years. In 1856 Mr. Donnelly determined to see what the west had to offer for a younc: man, and we find him in Wisconsin, where he finally determined to locate, taking up his residence in Adams county. He \vorked ior others for a few years, and it was in iSfj3 that he purchased the farm which has since that time been his homestead. It consisted of one hundred and twenty acres at that time, but his hartl work and judicious man- agement of his estate ha\'e enabled him to add to it until he is now the owner of three liundred and sixty acres of excellent farming and pasture lands, aljout one hundred acres of whicli are cultivated annually. He con- ducts general farming, dev(.)ting much atten- tion to stock. He has made a success of his line of business, and his honesty, liberality and steadfastness of character have won him the respect of all those among whom he has lived so man}- years. Hugh Donnelly was married February 18, 1848, to Mary Hinman, daughter of James anil Eliza (Seeley) Hinman. who/ came from the state of New York to Adams county aI)out 1850. To Mr. and Mrs. Don- nelly nine children have been liorn, eight of whom still survi\'e. John, now living in Waukesha, Wis.; Edgar; Frank, living in Waukesha, Wis. ; James, deceased, whose- death occurred in 1873; Sarah, now Mrs. J. Collins, of Waukesha, Wis. ; Joseph, at home : Thomas ; Hugh J. ; and Mary. The family are members of the Catholic church of Briggsville. In i.inlitical sentiment Mr. Donnelly is a Democrat, though he diies not take an acti\'e ])art in political affairs at the present time. He has held a num- ber of township offices, was chairman of the board five years, and has also held the ofiice of township treasurer. He has witnessed great changes in the condition of his coun- ty and state, and has himself been a potent factor in the advancement of all those in- terests which tend toward the general good. His name is inseparably connected with the history of his county. 488 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. CECIL ROSSOU ERNSPERGER. Cecil Rossou Ernsperger, an enterpris- ing young business man of Cambria, Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, was born in Rochester, Indiana, Septeml^er 19. 1863. His father was Frank B. Ernsperger, and was born at Rocky Forch ^^'(^od county, Ohio, October 14, 1839. The latter was the son of Christopher and Julia A. Ernsper- ger, natives of Maryland. The grandfa- th.er of Christopher Ernsperger came from Switzerland and settled in Maryland before the Revolutionary war. His son George, father of Christopher Ernsperger, served in that war, and in the war of 181 2. Soon after his marriage Christopher Ernsperger removed from Maryland to Wood cijunty, Ohio, and lived on a farm riear Sandusky for some years. In 1857 he went ti:i Ful- ton county, Indiana, wdiere he died in 1878, at the age of seventy-three }-ears. His wife, Julia A., also died at Rochester, Indiana, in 1896, aged eighty-five years. Her parents came from Maryland and died in Wyandotte county, Ohio. Frank B. Ernsperger, the father of our subject, received a common school education and spent one year at the University of Fremont, Ohio. At the age of fifteen years he entered a general store at Fremont. Ohio, and in the fall of 1859 he went to South Bend, Indiana, and two years later em])arked in business at Rochester, In- diana. In the fall of 1879 he came to Port- age, Wisconsin, where he carried on a mer- cantile business for about one year, then purchased a stock of goods at Cambria, and continued in business there mitil 1890. when he was elected county clerk of Columliia county on the Democratic ticket, and re- turned to Portage to live. At the exi)iration of his office he assumed management of the "Portage Democrat" and conducted it for three years. Since that time he has been jus- tice of the jieace, and is now serving his third term. He devotes most of his time to thebusiness that comes to him in this line. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1862. is a member of the A. O. U. W., and has filled the principal offices in the Masonic lodge. He was an active member of the I. O. O. F. for about thirty years, but has never affiliated with the local lodge. The mother of our subject was Mrs. Mary A. (Lyon) Ernsperger. She was born in Rochester, Indiana, the daughter of B. S. Lyon, a tailor and dealer in general mer- chandise at Rochester, and who sold his business to Mr. Ernsperp'er, and mnved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he died at an advanced age. Frank B. Ernsperger and Mary A. Ernsperger had four children, namely: Liljie \'. (now Mrs. Charles Leav- ens) ; Cecil R., the subject of th's sketch; Laura May, now Mrs. J. E. Williams ; and Edgar B., of Oakland, Californa. The mother died in 1893 at the age of fifty-five years. Frank B. Ernsperger was married in Indiana to Olivia A. Hebron, and has two sons by this marriage : Samuel B. and Frank E., of Portage. Cecil R. Ernsperger attended the Roches- ter common and high schools, completing the course at fifteen years of age. Then he came to Wisconsin and entered his father's store at Portage and later at Camljria. He spent two years as tra\-eling •representati\-e for a firm of implement manufacturers in Min- neapolis. He then returned to Portage and was employed for one year by J. Simon & Co., in a general store. He took charge of the grocery and crockery department of the great Bee Hive Department Store at Portage for two years, and in January 21, 1899, the firm of Scott & Ernsperger was formed, succeeding the firm of C. H. Green & Com- pany, at Cambria, in the general merchandise line. Mr. Ernsperger was married September I, 1890, to Maggie A. Andrew, daughter COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 489 of Ivlward and Maji'daleiie Andrew, of Cam- l;ria. Mr. ami Mrs. iM-nspergcr have one child, Laura May. Kir. Ernsperger is a mem- ber of jMcQueeny Lodge, No. 104, K. of P., at Portage; Fidehty Camp, No. 1161, M. W. A., at Caml^ria ; Silver Lodge, No. 19, .\. O. U. \\'.. of Portage. Mr. and Mrs. Erns- perger are also connectetl with the Royal Neighbors, Juniata Lodge, No. -2051, of Cambria, and Mrs. Ernsperger is serving as marshal of the lotlge. Mr. Ernsperger is a. Democrat in political faith, and has always taken an actixx interest in i)ul)lic matters. JOSEPH TILLOTSON. Joseph Tillotson. one of the oldest con- ductors in years of continuous ser\'ice on the Matlisun division of the Chicago & North- western Railroad, now making his home in Baraboo, was born in Leeds, England, June 4, 1844, and is a son of Joseph and Alice (Waite) Tillotson, also natives of the same place. When only six j^ears of age the fa- ther began work in a woolen factory of Leeds and was employed in the large indus- trial concerns of his native city until his em- igration to America. Having attained liis majority he married Alice Waite, the wed- ding taking place ]\Iarch 24. 1842. Her fa- ther was also employed in one of the fac- ' tories of Leeds, where he died at the age of thirty-five years. About 1849 J"seph Til- lotson, Sr., came with his family to America, locating in the town of Madison, Dane county, where he resided on a farm for many years, becoming one of the successful, prom- inent and inlluential agriculturists of the coninuniity. He spent the last two years of his life in Madison city, where he died April 25, 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a man of strong convictions and decided views, and neither fear or fa\'or could turn him from a course which he believed to be right. Of the Methodist church he was an acti\e niemi)er. and in politics he was a Re- publican for many years, but in later life voted with the Prohibition party. Although he resided in a Democratic township, he filled the office of town clerk and other official po- sitions, for all recognized his wdrth and abilit}-, and his fitlelitv to the trusts reposed in him. His wife, a most exemplary wnman and a dcxnut Christian, died in Madison April 25, 1887, in her sixty-seventh ^•ear. In their family were e:ght sons and six daughters, and eight are yet living. Joseph Tillotson, whose name heads this sketch, was only five vears old when he ac- companied his parents to Wisconsin. He early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and assisted in the work of the farm until .August 14, i8()2, when he enlisted in Cum- pany L Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry, being mustered out June 14, 1866, after three years and ten mimths of lo^al antl \aliant service. His regiment was assigned to the Deijartment of the Mississippi, and took part in the battles of Haines Bluff, Arkansas Post, and in the Vicksburg cam- paign, where 5,000 prisoners were captured. The regiment spent the winter of 1862-63 in digging the famous canal near \'icksburg and then took part in the \'icksburg cam- paign of 1863, including the battles of Port (jibson, Ivaymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and after the capture of Vicksburg participated in the expedition to Jackson, Mississippi. Later they were sta- tioned for two months at Vicksburg and were then transferred to the Department of the (nilf. .\t the liatile of Carrion Crow, the comiianv to which Mr. Tillotson be- longed was almost totally demolished, he being one (jf nine that was fit for duty at the close of the engagement, lie took ])ar.t in the Rey the fact that a colony of their countrymen were already located near Ra- cine. Leaving tlieir families at that place, these se\-en men started on foot to seek a de- 494 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. sirable location for settlement. After sev- eral, clays' travel llie\- reached Columbia county and IMr. Rowlands selected a "claim" on section 15 in what is now the township of Springvale, the immediate locality being better known as "Welsh Prairie." He pur- cliased several hundred acres of government land which is still owned by his descend- ants, built a log house and brought his fam- ily there the same season. Several of his associates settled near him and this was the beginning of an extensive colony of which the village of Cambria became the social and commercial center. The people composing this settlement ha\-e always ranked among the most intelligent and progressive citizens of Columbia county. John R. Rowlands was distinguished for remarkable physical activ- ity and ]X)ssesse(l may estimable qualities of mind and heart worthy of the emulation of rising o-enerations. He continued to re- side upon the farm until his death, which occurred January 19, 1883. Though he had attained the age of eighty-tliree years, he was able to walk from Cambria to his home, a distance of six miles, only a few months before his demise. His wife, whose maiden name was Jan.- Closs. departed this life September 21, 1869. at the age of sev- enty-four years. Her father. John Closs, came from Yorkshire, l^igland, and died in Wales. Morris J. Rowlands, whose name heads this article, was born in Csnarvonshire, ^^'■ales, July 4, 1840, and has lived in Co- lumbia county from the fifth year of his age. His educational advantages were lim- ited but he acquired a fund of general in- formation which naturrd judgment and ex- perience enables him to jnU to practical use. After living fur more than forty vears upoi the homestead farm, in 1886 he removed to Cambria where his present home occu- pies a sightly location and is one of the most conspicuous residences in the \-illae-e. For eight years he dealt in grain and lumber as a partner with Edward Harris, who was also proprietor of the Bank of Cambria. Upon the death of Mr. Harris in 1894 he pur- chased that institution, which has since lieen conducted by M. J. Rowlands & Son and is recognized in financial circles as one of the most relia1)le concerns in Columbia coun- ty. The firm is also interested to a ci>nsid- erable extent in real estate. It has erected a number of buildings, in the village and, Ije- sides the original homestead of the family, has acquired several other fine farms. Mr. Rowdands was one of the first farmers in the county to introduce the breeding of thor- oughbred Durham cattle and has also gix-en some attention to Clydesdale horses. Every enterprise in which lie has ])ecome interested owes its success in great measure to his thor- oughness and foresig'ht. He is a member of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church of Cambria, and has al- ways lent encouragement to enterprises cal- culated to cultivate the finer instincts of the jieople. He has given considerable atten- tion to music and for forty years has been a leader of church choirs. Belonging to a race which is famous the world over for musical talent, he and his associates have es- tablishetl an en\ial)le reputation in the cult- ure of that art and \'isitors have been at- tracted from all parts of the world to the musical con\-entions held in Cambria. Mr. Rowlands helped to organize the Cam1)ria Music Hall Company, which has recently Ijuilt an elegant opera house, such as would be a credit to any large cit}-, and which forms a source of just pride and delight to every patriotic citizen of Cambria and is one of the most noteworthy public l)uilding's of the county. Mr. Rowlands is identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has always supported the principles of the Republican ])arty. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 495 lliough he never seeks official honors, he has frequently been cahed to the discharge of local positions of trust and responsibility. For ten years he served as town clerk of Springvale and for eight years filled the same office in Courtland to\Miship. He was elected the first president of the village under the state charter and served two years in that capacity. In 1866 he was married to Aliss Cath- erine Owens, daughter of David and Jane Owens, of Springvale township. Mrs. Row- lands was born in \\'ales and came to the United States with her parents in 1847. One son, David Morris Rowlands, is now his fa- ther's partner in business. This gentleman v.as burn January 19, 1868. After leaving the pul)lic school and taking a course at a business college in ^Milwaukee, he began his business career in the lumljer office of Har- ris & Rowlands. In 1890 he became a partner with H. F. Schemmel in a general store at Cambria. Three years later he sold his in- terest in this establishment and entered the Bank of Cambria in the employ of Mr. Har- ris. Upon the death of that gentleman, as previously stated, he acquired an interest in the concern and has since filled the responsi- ble position of cashier. July 6, 1898, occurred the wedding of David M. Rowlands and Miss Emma Davis, daughter of Edwin and Jane Ann Davis, of Cambria. Mr. and Mrs. Rowlands are the happy parents of one boy, Morris David, born July 21, 1899. They are members of the Calvinistic Methodist church and Mr. Rowlands is identified with the Masonic or- der. He has filled the chair of junior deacon in Cambria Lodge and also holds member- ship in Fort Winnebago Chapter at Portage. ROBERT GALSTON. Robert Galston, a prosperous agricult- urist residing on section 36 in Adams town- ship, Adams county, is an early settler of that region. He has passed more than a quarter of a century within the borders of Adams county, and has lent his influence for the welfare of his community. His estate comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and he has added such improvements as make it one of the leading farms of the vicinity. He engages in general farming and is in- terested to some extent in stock raising. He has met with success in his chosen calling and has gained the respect of his fellows. Mr. Galston was liorn at Beith, Ayr- shire, Scotland, Aueust 24, 1835, and was the son of James and Elizabeth (Fulton) Galston. His father was a baker by trade, and conducted the Imsiness at Dairy. He died in 1859 and was Ijuried at Dairy, and the mother died in 1834, and was laid to rest at Beith. In a family of twelve children our suli- ject was the sixth in order of birth. He was given educational advantages and acquired a good education. At the age of twelve years he was started to learning the baker's trade, but not taking kindly to that trade he decided to learn the shipwright's trade and at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed for that purpose. He served four years with a firm in Glasgow, Scotland, and worked at his trade for aljout ten years. He came to America in 1870, locating at Chicago, where he was employed for some time. He came to Adams township, Adams county, in 1872, and homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land on section T,f>. He has aI>out eighty acres under cultivation, and has prospered. He erected a comfort- able residence and outbuildings, and is sur- rounded by all the comforts of rural life. Mr. Galston was married November 3, 1865, to Marion Hamilton, daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Sem])le) Hamilton, of Little Gill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Four children have been liorn to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Galston, named as fol- 496 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY lows: James, born January i, 1865, died November 27, 1869; Sarah, horn April 13, 1868, died November 17. 1869: James, horn March 12, 1870, now living- at home: and Alexander, bom July 22. 1872, now residing in Black River Falls. -Mr. Galston is a member of the Pres- byterian church. He has held various offices of local importance, including treasurer of his township, supervisor, justice of the peace four years, and assessor about five years. He is non-partisan in politics, voting for the ticket which meets his favor, ever looking to the interest of the community where he has matle his home for so many years. He has always been found standing on the side of right and justice, and no public enterprise which he deemed feasible passed him without his hearty support. He is one of the public- spirited men of Adams county, and all who honor good citizenship and honest industry hold him in the highest esteem. His name has been linked with many of the important public movements and to write a history of Adams county would of necessity frequently bring his name before the readers of such a \i.ilume. ROBERT MORRIS WILLIAMS. Robert Morris Williams, publisher of ''The Crank" at Pardeeville, is probably the oldest born native of Columbia county now residing therein. He was born in the town of Marcellon, September 16, 1850, and was a son of Morris Sibley and Phoebe C (King) \\'illiams. The parents of (_)ur subject sprang of New England families, who were dis- tinguished for patriotism. Joseph Will- iams, the grandfather of M. S. Williams, enlisted as a i^rivate and was promoted to cajitain of Xew York troops at Saratoga and did valuable service throughout the Revo- lutionary campaign against Burgoyne. His musket is preserved Iiy our subject. The grandfather of our subject, Ebenezer Will- iams, .served as a lieutenant in the war of 1 81 2, and took part in the engagement at Sacket Harbor. He was a farmer and hop grower in Oneida county. New York. He first came to Wisconsin in 1848 and was one of the pioneers of Marcellon township, settling there in 1850, where he at once be- gan the culture of hops, and this was prob- ably the beginning of that industry in ^^'is- consin. He died at the age of sixty-eight years. The father of our subject was born in SangerfieUl Center, Oneida county. New York, November 3, 1830, and came to Wis- consin in i8=;o. He lived on his father's original homestead until his death, October 4, 1868. He kept a country hotel on the road between Portage and Fox Lake, and was celebrated for his musical talents. Being owner of the first melodeon brijught to Co- lumljia countv, he furnished inspiration for many frontier dances and other public occa- sions. It was dijubtless owing to this gift tliat he receix'ed the name of "Jenny Lind" Williams, and his house was known far ami wide as the "Jenny Lind Tavern." He en- listed in Company I, Forty-ninth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and served until discharged at the close of hostilities. Further notice of the mother of our subject will be found in the sketch of James Scott, found elsewliere in this volume. Robert M. Williams attended the dis- trict school and li\'ed on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age. since w hich time he has followed various occupa- tions in difl'erent states and acquired a valu- able fund of experience and general infor- mation. He began the publication oi the "Pioneer" at Clidden. Wisconsin, in 1876, the second ])apcr in Ashland county, where he li\ed nine years, serving as ]3ostmastcr. town clerk, town treasurer, and in \-ari- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 497 ous other official capacities. He then went to Florence, Alabama, where he contlucted a photograph galler}' three years and then continued in the same business in Nashville, Tennessee, six years. He returned to Par- deeville in 1898 and began the i)ublication of the "Crank," a joinnial devoted to inde- pendent reform. It has achieved noteworthy popularity among the people of Columbia and adjoining counties. Mr. Williams has also given a great deal of attention to hypnotism as a science, and possesses re- markable magnetic power, and he has many original ideas on various subjects. He is a Spiritualist in faith. Our subject was married in 186S to America A. Smith, a daug'hter of Nathaniel and Angeline Smith, of Marcellon town- ship. Mrs. Williams was born in Livingst(3n county. New York, but came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. \\'illiams are the parents of tive living chil- dren, who are as follows : Angeline, now Mrs. A. G. Cox, of Chicago ; Alorris L. K. ; Daisy L. ; Robert Asa; and Russell C. One child, Leroy, was drowned in the Chijjpewa river, at Glidden, \Visconsin, at the age of two vears. HENRY SAWYER. Henry Sawyer, one of the most success- ful farmers of Columbia county, is now re- siding in the \ illage of Cambria. Mr. Saw- yer was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, England, March 25, 1840. Henry Sawyer is the son of John and Elizabeth (Ellis) Sawyer, both natives of Burslem, England. The grandfather, Ralph Sawyer, lived and died in England, and was a miner and collier by trade. John Sawyer, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a potter by trade and became a specialist in the art of turning cups, saucers, etc. He was connected in England with the Potters' Emigration Societv, and was appointed as one of a committee of three to seek a lo- cation for planting a colon}'. This commit- tee came to :\merica, and on reaching New Y'n-k City left their families there and pro- ceeded to \\'ashington, D. C, t(_) oljtain de- sired information regarding lands, etc. They then brought their families to Milwau- kee, where they left them while they made a trip to Columbia county. Here they se- lected two thousand acres of land in Scott township, which they purchased of the gov- ernment at one dollar and a quarter per acre. They sur\-eyed and divided this ir.to one hundred lots of twenty acres each, 20x160 rods, most of which were occupied the next season by emigrants sent over by the Society from Staffordshire. Being a man of genius and original ideas, John Saw- yer made a more successful farmer than most of those who formed this colony. His family joined him in July, 1846, at the sea- son when wild strawberries were ripening. Between Fox Lake and Portage at that tnue there was but a single habitation on the stage route. Mr. Sawyer and his col- leagues built eight log cabins the first season, each of which sheltered several families. He afterwanl remo\-ed to another farm in Scott township, where he owned three hun- dred acres of land. He acquired several other tracts of land, which he improved to some extent. He drew logs to the mill at Camljria from which lumber was sawed for his buildings, and he roofed them with rough boartls, Which warped in the sun and let in the rain freely. John Sawyer was a rran of firm con\ictions, and held inde- pendent views on most public questions. At various times he filled the principal town- ship offices of Scott township and during the Civil war was active in raising bounties for volunteers, and only one draft was made in that township. His first wife was the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. mother of our subject, ^Irs. Elizalieth Ellis Sawyer. She died in 1847, at the age of about twentv-eig-ht years. Her father, Richard Ellis, was an engineer in a coal mine at Burslem, England. Henry Sawyer, the subject of this sketch, was her only child. John Sawyer afterward married Edna Smith, who died without children. He married a third time, Hannah Whit- tingham becoming his wife. She also died childless. John Sawyer lived to be seventy- three years of age, his death occurring De- cember 15, 1893. Henry Sawyer went to school for the first time at the age of sixteen years. At the age of twenty-three he began farming for himself in Scott township, where he has lived the greater part of his life. He is the owner of the original farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres which he purchased in 1862 and cleared from the forest. In addition to this he owns a farm of six hun- dred and eighty acres in Springvale town- ship, a portion of which he rents to tenants. He has divided his attention between grain and stock. Since 1S99 Mr. Sawyer has made his home in the village of Cambria, though he still conducts his farming business. Mr. Sawyer was married November 20, 1865, to Ann P. Baillies, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Baillies. Mrs. Sawyer was born in Paisley, Scotland, and came to America with her parents in 1849, settling in Scott township, where Mr. Bail- lies died January 13, 1894, aged seventy- nine years. Mrs. Elizabeth Baillies died in 1S92, at the age of sixty-five years. Her father, John Hamilton, was a native of Scotland, and died in Scott township, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a weaver of Paisley shawls, and acquired great skill in this branch of trade. Alexander Baillies, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Sawyer, was a soldier in the P^ritish army, and was statiunetl in Ireland at the time of the l)irth of his son, Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have five children, namely: Elizabeth Jane, now Mrs. Charles Healy, of Ironwood, Michigan; Mary Ellen, now Mrs. John Dodge, of Springvale town- ship; Jessie Ann, now Mrs. Samuel Dodge, of Springvale township; John Henry; Hugh Thomas, the two last named being at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sawver have four grandchil- dren. Mr. Sawyer is a member of the A. O. U. \\., the M. W. A., and the I. O. O. F. His fraternal connections are with the lodges at Pardeeville. While he has always been a v-alued citizen and a supporter of the principles of good government, he has never sought political preferment. In political views he is a Democrat. Without his seek- ing it, he recei\ed the nomination for member of the general assembly on the Dem- ocratic ticket, in 1900. HENRY AMMIRAS DARROW. Henry Ammiras Darrow, a well-known citizen of W'infield township, Sauk county, Wisconsin, is descended from worthy New England ancestry and exhibits many of the sterling qualities which characterize the peo- ple of that section. He was born in Mecca, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 20, 1839, and is a son of H. Ammiras and Luceba (Dann) Darrow, both natix'os of New York, the former born in Albany county, the latter in the western part of the state. The paternal grandfather, Ammiras Darrow, who was a soldier of the Revolu- tionary war, made his early home in Con- necticut, and when the father of our sub- ject was four, years old removed, with his family, from Albany county, New York, to Booneville, Oneida county, that state, where COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 499 he built and operated a tannery. This es- tabhshment was afterward Inirnetl down, causing him a serious loss. He died in Booneville. He was of Scotch descent, while his wife, Sarah Fisher, was of Irish extrac- tion, her father being a iiati\c nf the Em- erald Isle and pressed on bnard a British man-of-war, from wliich he escaped and came to America. She was born in New London, Connecticut, and was nine years old when the place was burned liy General Arnold, whom she had known befure he en- tered the army. She died in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, at the advanced age of ninety- three years. Soon after his marriage, H. Ammiras Darrow, the father of our subject, removed to Trumbull count}', Ohio, and in the fall of 1839 came to Wisconsin, first locating in Walworth county, and became one of the pioneers of Allen's Grove, where he lived upon a farm for twelve years. When he located there the nearest postofBce was at Beloit. In 185 1 he came to Sauk county and took up his residence in Winfield town- ship, where he died in his ninety-sixth year. He was always a vigorous and rugged man, and when sixty-five years old walked to Madison from Winfield and returned in three days. His first trip to this county from Allen's Grove, in 1851, was made on foot. When the town of Winfield was separated from Reedsburg, in 1852, he suggested the name, in honor of Winfield Scott, who was at that time a candidate for the presidency. At the age of thirty-nine years, H. Am- miras Darrow married Miss Luceba Dann, a daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Rull) Dann. The former was a descend- ant of Francis Dann, who founded one of the earliest Episcopal churches in New England, at Danntown, Connecticut, in 1675. Mrs. Darr(jw was also a rei)resenta- tive of the Underbill family, mentioned bv Whittier in one of his famous poems. She died a few years licforc her husband at the age of seventy-two years. In their family were ten children, li\-e sons and five daugh- ters, all of whom are still living, namely: Elizabeth; Adelia R. ; PhtEbe M. ; Henrv Ammiras; Nathaniel; Sarah, wife of L. N. Fish, of Winfield; Albert; George; Caro- line, widow of Sherman Winlield ; and John, of Barron county, Wisconsin. All are resi- dents of \Visc(.insin with the exception of Albert, who li\'es in Iowa. Mr. Darrow, whose name introduces this review, was a lad of tweh'e years when he came with the family to Sauk county. Dur- ing his boyhood and y(-iuth he attended school during the winter months, wdiile tlirough the summer season he engaged in farm work. At the age of twenty-one he started out in life for himself, and a few years later bought a part ui his present farm, which at that time was wild land. He has since owned two luuulred and eighty acres, but of that amount he has sold forty- one acres. He now has one hundred and fifty acres under a high state of cultivation, and improved with good and substantial buildings. He was one of the incorporators of the State Bank of Reedsburg, in 1898, and is a business man of more than ordinary ability. He was a memljer ui the Wiscon- sin Grange for a time, and has affiliated with the Republican party since voting for Abraham Lincoln, in 1S60. Most credit- ably has he filled the offices of town super- intendent of schools, clerk of his school dis- trict twenty-five years and town treasurer, and is recognized as one of the most public- spirited and progressive citizens of his town. JOFIN WILLIAM VROMAN. Prominent among the agriculturists and pioneer settlers of Adams county, Wiscon- sin, is the gentleman whose name appears 500 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. at the head of tliis review. He is a resident of Jackson township, and many are the stories of early Hfe in Wisconsin told by this leader in the march of ci\'ilization. John William \'roman was born in Sharon, Schoharie connty. New York, Jan- uary 5, 1829, the son of Josiah A. and Eliza- beth (Fritcher) Vroman, both natives of Sharon, New York, where the father was born December 24, 1799, and the mother in 1803. In 1841 our subject's father, Jo- siah Cronian, came with his family to Wis- consin, locating at Darion, in Walworth county, where he lived about ten years, and then settled in Adams county. He died at Oxford, Wisconsin, at the age of sixty-eight years. John WiUiam Vroman settled upon his present farm in 1857, staking ofif a "squat- ter's" claim, and a few years later pur- chased it from the government at one dollar and a cjuarter per acre. He is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, with a high class of improvements and conveniences added by his *own industry. He now rents his farm to his son, and gives his own attention to an apiary, with which he is meeting with success. He spends much of his time now in fishing and hunt- ing, and in the enjoyment of a well-earned competence. He has been a great hunter in his day, and when large game was more plentiful than now his chosen sport was the deer hunt. At three different times in his life he has killed two of these animals at one shot, a fact which is testified to by liv- ing witnesses in whose presence the deed was done. For several years his larder was supplied with choice venison killed upon his own lands. Mr. Vroman was married to Miss Mary Murphy May 10, 1852. Mrs. Vroman was born in Albany, New York, December 24, 1828. Her parents dietl during her infancy. After many years spent in faithful duty to her family and kindness and Christian helpfulness to her friends and neighbors, ]\Irs. Vroman passed away April 21, 1884, her death occurring in , Jackson township. Fi\'e children were born to J\Ir. and Mrs. \'roman, namely: Mary E., who died Sep- tember 10, 1S72, aged eighteen years; George W., now a farmer of Adams county; Charles Henry, born September 29, 1857, and died December 28, 1893; Hattie J., a professional nurse, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin ; and Frank C, who now carries on farm- ing on the old home farm, and was mar- ried December 28, 1892, to Miss Maud Smith, of Oxford, Wisconsin. yir. Vroman is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 91, A. F. & A. M., in which he has been an officer several years. He voted for General Winfield Scott for the presi- dency in 1852 and since that time has lent his support to the men and measures of the Republican party, never missing a vote at a presidential election. He has held several local public ofifices, and enjoys to a high de- gree the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens, of all political, beliefs. JAMES WHIPPLE ROBINSON. James \Vhipple Robinson, Poynette, Wis- consin, is now living in honorable retire- ment in that village, and is numbered among the older and more venerable residents of C(jlumbia county. He was born in Castle- ton, Rutland county, Vermont, October 3, 1822, and is a son of Dean Tyler and Try- phena (Whipple) Robinson. He was edu- cated in Castleton Seminary, and came to Wisconsin in 1846, settling in the town of Leeds, Columbia county. He bought sev- enty-six acres of land upon his settlement in the town, and as he made progress he bought more land from time to time until J. W. ROBIHSOH. MRS. J. W. ROBIHSOH. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 503 tlie farm consists of a lialf-section of as de- siral)le land as is to be found in the county. His tirst stav in the state was rather brief, as lie returned to X'erniont in the sprint;' of 1848, and kept store for some montlis for a railroad company then building a line from East Rutland to Whitehall, Xew York. The summer of 1849 he spent on the banks of Newfoundland engaged in fishing, giiing out from Pro\'incetown in May and return- ing in October. He was seeking the im- pro\ement of his health, which at that time was somewhat impaired. On his return from this prolonged stay among the cod fishermen he was t|uite well again, and in November of that year he was married to Miss Theresa, the daughter of James and Sophia (Bray- ton) Flagg, of Hubbard ton, Vermont. She was born in that place, and was a gradu- ate of Castleton Seminary. She was a very successful teacher and had taught a number of terms previous to her marriage. The young couple came on immediately to their Wisconsin home and here four children were born to them — James F., Jane, Ada Theresa and Dean Tyler. At the birth of the latter the mother passed away. James I", was born October 12, 1851, and is now living in Denver, Colorado. The other children died in infancy and early childhood, James F. was married in September, 1885, to Miss Alma Curtiss, the daughter of Elbridge Cur- tiss, of Lowville. They were the par- ents of two children — Arthur and Mary 'J'heresa. Mrs. Robinson died in 1892; he married again in 1892, Miss Flelen Scott becoming his wife. She is the daughter of Smith J. and Marian Scott, of Lowville. They are the parents of two children — Marian Theresa and James Scott, who died in infancy. James Flagg had a large family, which he reared upon an extensive Vermont farm. They were: Theophilus, born in 1819, and died in Parishville, New York, at an ad- vanced age; James Madison, 1811, died in Chicago; Amasa Wesson. 1813, died in Castleton, July 9, 1870; Orlando died in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, in 1896; Stephen B. d-ed in Hubbardton, \^ermont ; Minerva married Elisha Cook, and is now living in Leicester Junction, X'ermont ; Theresa, the wife of J. \\'. Robinson, was born August 20, 1821, and died December 2, 1855; Charles is now living on the old homestead in Hubbardton; and Horatio died in early manhood. These children, on the mother's siile, had an uncle, the Rew Durlin L. Bray- ton, who was a missionary in Burmah for nearly sixty years and who recently died. Two children died in early childhood. Conspicuous among these children was James Madison, who graduated at Middle- bury College, in 1835, and served one year in the college as a tutor. He studied law and settled in southern Lidiana. While there he was employed by the heirs in a dis- puted will case involving eighty thousand dollars in mining lands in the mountains of Tennessee. Mr. Flagg's fee was one-half if he won the suit for the heirs. He handled the case skillfully, met all the assaults of the enemy boldly, and won the suit and got liis fee. A son of Amasa Wesson is the Rev. Rufus Cushman Flagg, D. D., now president of Ripon College, Wisconsin. The second wife of J. W. Robinson was Sarepta, the daughter of Halsey Scovill, of the state of New York. They were mar- ried in 1856, and this union was blessed by two children — Edward Miner, who was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, in 1858, and married Clara Bowman. She was a daugh- ter of Adam Bowman, of Lodi, and had one son, Adam James. Horton Boardman, her other son, was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, in 1859. He married Miss Mina Thomas, the daughter of Enoch Thomas, of Poy- nette, Wisconsin. Horton died in 1888. Li 1856 Mr. Robinson, at the time of 504 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. his second marriage, left his farm, and re- sided in Columlnis fur aliout live years as a buyer of wheat and other farm produce. \\ heat was then a staple commodity in Co- lumbia county. Mr. Robinson exchanged his Columlius pn.iiierty, consisting of two warehouses, a house and lot, for eighty acres of land adjoining his home farm. He came back to the farm, and turned his attention to stock raising, taking much interest in Per- cheron horses. It was largely through his efforts that the Presbyterian church in Low- ville was instituted. He was an elder in this organization for many years. He voted for Henry Clay for president and has ..been an active working Republican since the organization of that party. He was town clerk for several years, assessor and school superintendent He has always been a de- moted friend of the public schools, doing •what he could to promote their efficiency. In 1 89 5, having passed the allotment of three score years and ten, he commenced selling his farm in parts as o])portunities occurred, and, after closing out the whole, bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Lowville, which he now owns. Peter Robinson, the grandfather of J. W., was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1757. He married Jane Carlton in 1781. He emigrated with most of the Robinson family in 1790, and settled for a time at Georgia, Vermont, where Dean Tyler was born in 1794. Dean Tyler Robinson married Tryphena Whipple in 181 5, and died in 1862, at the age of sixty-nine. Peter Robinson was the father of nine children : Nancy, born in 1781; William R., 1784; Pohy, 1786; Amelia, 1788; Joseph, 1790; Betsy, 1792; Dean Tyler, June 4, 1794; Peter, 1799; and James, who died in 1891. W^illiam was the father of one son, Charles, born in 1823, and several daughters. Joseph was the fa- ther of one son, Dean Tvler, born in St. Albans, Vermont, in 1828, who is now living in Rock Island, Illinois. Spencer R., a son of Dean Tyler, was born in Rock Island in 1870. Peter Robinson had three sons and one daughter, and the onl}- one of the family riow living is the Rev. Charles E. Robinson, v.ho married Clara Vale. He is now the pastor of the Presbyterian church, at Scran- ton, Pennsylvania. They ha\'e one son, Allen R. James Robinson died in Parish- ville, New York, in 1891. He was the fa- ther of one son, Porter, and three daughters. Dean Tyler Robinson, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, had four children — Sarah A., born 1817; she married Edward H. Deni- si;>n. of Castleton, and was the mother of four children. Pier daughter Anna mar- ried the Rev. John A. Williams, twenty years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Peacham, Vermont. Of her sons, William is a merchant at Pittsford, Vermont; Francis was appointed consul in New Brunswick, and Edward was an assayer and died out v;est. Samuel M. Robinson was born Au- gust 31, 181 8, in Hubbardton, Vermont, ar.d moved to Castleton, when a child. He went to Cincinnati in 1840, and shortly after to Watertown, New York, where he practiced dentistry nearly forty years. In 1846 he married Anna Foreman, of Seneca Falls, New York. A daughter of this couple was Anna F., who was born August 20, 1849, at which time the wife and mother passed away. Mr. Robinson married Maria PI. Bingham May 16, 1851, and she became the mother of four children — Allen B., Angle, John Sterling and John Carlton. Allen died in 1877. Sterling married Miss May Flower in 1879. She was the daugh- ter of George W. Flower, and a niece of ex- Governor Roswell P. Flower, of New York. He died September 19, 1896, leaving a son, Anson F. Robinson, born September .23, 1 88 1, in Watertown, New York. He is now in Columbia College, New York City, with COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 505 his mother and other members of his fam- ily, who are in the banking business at No. 49 Broadway. The biograpliy of James Whipple forms the theme of this writing. The youngest daughter of this family, Jane Carlton, who was born September i8, 1845, died December 3, 1855. Asa Robinson, the father of Peter Rob- inson, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1725, and married Maria Hovey, who was born in 1723. Dean Robinson, the fa- ther of Asa, was born in Ando\-er in 1699, and married Sarah Perley in 1723. Dean Robinson was born in 1672 and married Miss Mary (her parents' names are not legi- ble in the record) in 1697. Joseph Robinson \vas born about 1640, and married Miss Phoebe Dean, the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dean, the first pastor of the first church of Andover. Isaac, the father of Joesph Rob- inson, married Margaret Hanford, of Scitu- ate, Massachusetts. The Rev. John Roljin- son was born in 1575, entered Cambridge University, Eng'land, in 1590, and was made Fellow of the University in 1599. He was pastor of the Pilgrim church in Hol- land, and died in Leyden in 1625. His widow and son, Isaac, followed the Pilgrims to America and settled in Scituate. In clos- ing this article Mr. Robinson says: "If any family has a right to be grateful for an h.onored ancestry we have reason to be so, for we are descendants of so great and good a man as John Robinson, the minister of the Pilgrims." The historian adds that to the eye of the thoughtful student of history there is scarcely more significant scene than the affecting parting of Pastor Robinson with I'lis faithful followers on the sands of the Holland shore as they were about to sail for the new world, leaving him behind, and he took up the Bible and pressed against the heart of their leader, saying "Take this book, and treasure it, for new light is about to break out of its sacred pages." The light has burst, and the world is made anew, and its present peace and liberty is largely due to the piety and dex'otion of such men as Pastor Robinson. BENJAMIN SHELDON BEMENT. Benjamin Sheldon Bement, one of the most successful farmers of Del] Prairie township, Adams county, is one of the early settlers of that region. He was born in Mason township, Cass county, Michigan, August 8, 1839, and was the son of David and Roxana (Schutt) Bement. The father was a native of Connecticut, and was of English lineage. He moved with his father, Sheldon Bement, in 1820, while still a youth, to Manchester township, Ontario county. New York, where his father followed his trade, that of carpenter, and spent the re- mainder of his life in New York. Our sul)- ject's father was born October 12, 1813, and went to Cass county, Michigan, in 1838, where he resided on a farm until his death, December 8, 1879. He was a reserved man, careful in business detail, and was success- ful., and enjoyed the respect of all. The mother of our subject was born June 21, 181 9, in Ontario county. New York, and was the daughter of Benjamin and Chris- tina (Bruzee) Schutt, who were of Holland Dutch descent. Her father was a thrifty farmer, and Ixjth narents tlied in Cass coun- ty, Michigan. Mrs. David Bement passed away in Cass county, Michigan, June 26, 1889. The family to which our subject be- longed consisted of the following children : George, residing in Ontwa township, Cass county. Michigan ; Edwin, also a resident of Cass county; Harley died at the age of thirty-six vears : Martha, who married Lewis Thompson, and died in Michigan; and Ar- 506 COMPEA'DIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. tliur died in childhood. Benjamin S. Be- nient attended tiie district school and re- ceived a good edncation. He worked in a grist-mill for a few years after he reached Ins manhood, but later li\-ed on a farm in Cntwa township, Cass county, remaining there until 1872. He then came to Wiscon- sin, and purchased a farm in section 12, Dell Prairie township, Adams county. The "Campbell Railroad" had been surveyed across the county, and land values were at the highest mark. His original farm, c(.)m- prising two hundred acres, cost three thou- sand dollars, and he paid five hundred cash at the tune of purchase, and has since can- celletl the balance. Eighty acres were cleared, and he was successiiU in his busi- ness. He now possesses nine hundred and twenty acres, some of which has been ap- portioned among his sons. He has raised some fine crops ot cl.over seed, and also gives some attention to stock raisnig. He erect- ed a fine brick residence in 1S84, which is one of the best in Adams county, and the other buddmgs and improvements on the farm are of the best and Inult with an idea to comfort and convenience. Mr. Bement enlisted at the first call for volunteers in 1861, in Company A, Chandler Horse Guards, which was recruited at Cold- water, Michigan. He served three months and twelve days, when the company was dis- charged. He then enlisted for three years, but owing to some technicality in the en- listment rolls the regiment was mustered out. Our subject was married January 25, 1862, to Eliza Kellogg, daughter of Daniel and Mary Ann (Neal) Kellogg, of Ontwa township, Cass county, Michigan. Mrs. Be- ment was born in Bloomfield, Ontario coun- ty. New York, and her father was a native of the same county, and was of English descent. Her mother was born in England ' of Scotch parentage and died in Adams county, ^Visconsin, in 1880. aged seventy- three years. Three sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bement,, as follows: Georgia, who married Andrew J. Tuesley, and wdao died March 31, 1888, aged twenty-five years; Sidney, farming in Dell Prairie township; Harley, also farming in Dell Prairie township; and Frank, who conducts the homestead farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bement have four grandchildren. Mrs. Bement was reared in the Baptist faith, and is a lady of refinement and kindly feel- ings. Our subject is a member of Delle I,odge, A. F. & A. M., at Kilbourn, and has been a member of the order for over thirty years. He adhered to the Greenback move- ment in early years, and of late has become afliliated with the Populist party. He is a gentleman who keeps posted on imp( .1 1 issues, and is strong in his convictions. He has filled several township offices, and is one of the prominent men of his community, and highly esteemed for his good (qualities. REV. JOSEPH FRANKLIN BACON. Rev. Joseph Franklin Bacon, who is practically living a retired life in Kilbourn City, was l)orn in Seneca county, New York,, h'ebruary 7, 1824, a son of Noah B. and Charlotte (York) Bacon. His paternal grandfather was Elijah Bacon, who came to this country from England in cokjuial days, and aided the colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier during the Revo- lutionary war. The father of our subject was born in Cayuga county. New York, De- cember 19, 1799, and is still living, his home being in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a man of considerable literary talent and on each birthday writes a poem. In 1842 he came to Wisconsin and first located in Muk- wonago, Waukesha county, but afterward COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 507 lived in La Grange, this state, and still later in Adams county. His wife, who was a native of Canada, died in White Creek, Adams county, Wisconsin, in May, 1874, at the age of seventy-six years. Her parents ^vere of Holland descent and died in Batavia, New York. In early life the subject of this sketch learned the blacksmith's trade in New York, and after coming to this state, at the age of nineteen years, lie followed that trade in Alukwonago for several years. Subsecjuent- ly he conducted a shop in La Grange and also did more or less wagon work. He next made his home in Oregon, Dane county, wdiere he erected a stone shop and carried on business until his removal to Easton, Adams county, where he worked at his trade and also engaged in farming. Later he lived two years at \\'hite Creek and ten 3'eaTs at Briggsville, where he carried on a shop for a time, and from there removed to Portage, but since 1895 he has made his home in Kilbourn City. On the 27th of July, 1845, -^1''- Bacon married Miss Ann Algard, a nati\e of I'itts- burg, Penns}'lvania, and a daughter of Jo- seph and Eliza (Remer) Algard. Of the nine children born Xn them, one died in in- fanc}' and three died of diphtheria within eight days at Easton, Wisconsin — Laura D., at the age of eleven years ; Henrietta, at the age of six; and Jay, at the age of three. The others are as follows : William, a farmer of Easton township ; Frank, who was drowned at Briggsville in his twentieth year; Charlotte Eliza, wife of H. S. Worden, of Portage; Bertia F., a resident of Madi- son, Wisconsin ; and Carrie I\Iay, at home. ]Mr. Bacon experienced religion at a re- \i\al meeting in Bath, Steuben county, Wis- consin, and was at once appointed class leader. He began preaching at that place at the age of sixteen years. He became a great Bible student, but was accused of skepticism and infidelity by the elders of the church on account of his peculiar views. He invited his neighbors and associates to come and hear him express his views on a certain date, and at the close of the service was congratulated by a L'ni\-ersalist min- ister, who ha]i])ened to Ije i)resent — the first person of that faith whom he had e\-er met. He preached occasionally thereafter. Init was not identified with any church. \\'hile livinsr at Easton, Wisconsin, he began to hold regu- lar services. He joined the Universalist conference and was ordained a minister at Plainville, Adams county. Subsequently he organized a society at Briggsville and built a church there. Though the first build- ing was destroyed by a cyclone, in two years he succeeded in rebuikling it, devoting four years of almost constant laJ)or to the build- ing of that church. For some years past he has not been acti\'ely engaged in the work of the ministry, though he is frequently called upon to officiate at funerals. He has always been a contributor t(j religious pub- lications and still does more or less literary work. Even while holding regular religious services, he labored daily at his trade, and is still noted for his industrious habits, as well as his honoral)le and upright life. JAMES L. BONHAM. James L. Bonham, a leading and promi- nent attorney of Baraboo, \Visconsin, is one of the native citizens of Sauk county, his birth ha\-ing occurretl in Troy township, August 28, 1862. His parents were George and Ruhamah E. (Jacoby) Bonham. The father was born in Buckinghamshire. Eng- land, October 15. 1821, and in his native land learned the trade of a baker and also worked as a common laborer. While a young man he became interested in religious 508 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. matters and was made a licensed preacher in the Methodist church. As earlv as 1835 he came to the United States and first lo- cated near jMansfield, Ohio. A few years later he became one of the pioneers of Sauk county. Wisconsin, locating- on a farm in Troy township. He took an active part in organizing the Methodist church in this sec- tion and often officiated at funerals and on other occasions when no regular minister was at hand, his services always being gratu- itously given. He also took an active inter- est in organizing and maintaining good schools, though he himself never attended school but eighteen days. He was, iK^wever, a natural orator and a tireless student who kept himself well informed on the leading topics and questions of the day. He died September 4, 1892, honored and respected by all who knew him. His widow is still living in Spring Green, at the age of sixty- three years. She was born in Stark county, Ohio, of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage, and was married May 5, 1853. To Air. and Mrs. Bonham the following children were born; Susan E., who married Benjamin Young and is now deceased; HoU.is G., who died near Nelson, North akota; Phoebe A., wife of Amos D. Henry, of Kempton, North Dakota; Lucy L., wife of W. H. Palmer, of Marshall, Minnesota; Tames L., our sub- ject; John E., a farmer of Troy township, Sauk county; and William B., who operates the homestead farm. After leaving the common schools James L. Bonham entered Lawrence Unix'ersitv, Appleton, \\ isconsin, where he pursued a scientific course and was graduated with the class of 1889. He then matriculated in the law school of the State University at Madi- son, and was graduated from that institu- tion in 1 89 1. He at once opened an office in Baraboo and has since successfully en- gaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion, making a s])ecialty of probate law. Soon after coming here he was appointed police justice of the city, which office he most creditably filled until the fall of 1897, \' hen he was appointed justice of the peace, for the first ward. On the 15th of January, 1895. ^I''- Bon- ham was united in marriage with Miss M. Grace Stanley, a native of Baraboo and a daughter of William Stanley, a leading citizen (jf that place, and they now have a little daughter, Mabel L. They attend the Methodist church, where Mr. Bonham has sung in the choir for mam' years. He is also second tenor in the Columbian Male Quartet, an organization of considerable local repute, which is engaged for many pub- lic occasions throughout the state. He is a prominent member of Baraboo Lodge, No. 47, K. P.. in which he has passed through all the principal chairs and has recently been elected chancellor commander. He is also captain of the Uniform Rank of Ivnights of Pythias, and a member of Baralioo Lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M. Since attaining his majority he has affiliated with the Republi- can partv and has stumped the county in three different campaigns, speaking in nearly every voting precinct. Genial and affable in manner, he makes many friends and has the happy faculty of being able to retain them. JAMES AUGUSTIN SWEANY. James Augustin Sweany, an influential farmer of Fort ^Vinnebago township, Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, represents one of the oldest and most progressive families of that locality. He was born in Lunv, county Londonderry, L^elaiul, August i, 1840, and is a son of John and Mary ( Mc- Willjams) Sweany, natives of the same county. His ])aternal grandparents, Law- rence and Mrs. (Ivelle_\') Sweany, livetl and COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 509 (liecl in Iroland, hut tlic maternal grandfa- ther. i\ndre\v McW'iUiams, came to Amer- ica about 1S30 and located in the vicinity of Lake Champlain, his death occurring at Burlington. X'ermont. Several of his sons became prominent citizens of that locality. and there representatives of the family still li\e. In his natix'e land John Sweany. the fa- ther of our suljject, followed the occupation of a farmer and linen wea\-er until 1842, when he came to the new world, being eight weeks in crossing the Atlantic from Belfast tc Quebec. Canada. He first located in Burlington. Vermont; later he spent two or tl'.ree years in Plattsburg. New York, and two in St. John's. Canada, where he and his elder sons were employed in a glass fac- tory. Subsequentlv they engaged in the same business near Hookset. New Haiujj- shire. In 1849 the father came to Wiscon- sin by way of the lakes to Milwaukee, where be arrived June 15, and first located in Sun Prairie, Dane county, but two months later came to Fort \\'innebago, which had re- cently been vacated by the garrison. He made a squatter's claim on lands which had been granted to the state by the United States for improvements on the Fox river, and a number of years later bought the same. The odd numbered sections were in- cluded in this grant. Mr. Sweany built a log house on section 26, which was the home of the family for eleven years, and to his original purchase he added from time to time until, he and his sons had about one thousand acres before his death, most of vdiich is still owned by the family. He cnntinued to acti\elv engage in farming until a short time before his death, which occurred December t,, 1874. He was one of the organizers of St. Mary's Catholic church, at Portage, of which he was al- ways a prominent member, and to w'hich he was a liberal contributor. On becoming an American citizen he ga\'e his allegiance to the Democratic party and remained (jne of its stanch supporters. Idis worthy wife sur\-ived him many years, dving January 29, 1896, at the advanced age of ninety years, retaining her physical and mental faculties until the last. Thev were people of more than average intelligence, and took great pains in cultivating the mental and moral ((ualities of their offspring, most of whom attended high schools or colleges and be- came capable men and women, several (occu- pying important public positions. The fol- lowing is a, brief record of the children : Lawrence is ex-municipal judge of Pales- tine. Texas : Anilrew is mentioned below ; John was engaged in the manufacture of glass at Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, where he chetl in 1892, aged fiftv-nine vears : Charles, a resident of Fort Winnebago township, Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, died in 1895. ageil fifty-nine; Isabella C, James A. and Michael A. occupy the old iiomestead ; Bernard J. died in 1865. aged twent}' }-ears : Mary J. is Sister Mary Philip, of the Do- minican Order at Sinsinawa Mound, Wis- consin. From earlv liinhood James A. Sweanv lias residetl on the home farm in Fort Win- Ticbago township. He attended Regiopolis College. Kingston, Ontario, and alsi") took an elective course at the Wisconsin Cni\er- sity with the view of fitting himself for the legal profession, but owing to illness and death in the family he did not complete his studies at that institution, where he was a classmate of John C. Spooner. now United States senator from Wisconsin. Since 1872 he and his brother, Michael, lia\e carried on the homestead, consisting of over six hundred acres under a high state of cultiva- tion and well improved. Thev .give con- siderable attention to the raising of high grade stock, and in connection with his agri- cultural pursuits our subject has at different 510 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. times been interested in other enterprises, having taught school for several years in the surrounding country. He always keeps abreast of the times, being well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. and is a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party. For several terms he was chairman of the town of Fort \\'innebago, and was a member of the building commit- tee which had charge of the erection of the county insane asylum at Wyocena in 1 891. He was the candidate of his party for county clerk in 1874, and clerk of the court in 1878, and received a very flattering vote, but as the Democrats were in the minority he failed of election. He is, howe\'er, one of the most influential antl prominent men of his community. Andrew Sweany, a lirother of James A., was born in the town of Luny, county Lon- donderry, Ireland, October 29, 1829, and died in Fort Winnebago township, Colum- bia county, Wisconsin, March 20, 1873. He came with the family to America, and be- fore their remo\al to Wisconsin, he engaged in school teaching in the east at the age of fifteen }-ears. The following year he com- menced stud}' f(.ir the priesthootl, but ow- ing to ill health never entered the church. Some time previous to his death he was a student at St. Francis Seminary, Milwau- kee. He was elected town supervisor of Fort Winnebago in 1852; town clerk in 1855; and was chairman of the committee on the poor in 1S57 and 1858. being one of the chief jiromotors of the system still in vogue in caring for the poor of the county. From an obituary written by a personal friend and acquaintance of this gentleman, we quote the following: "He was of remarkable depth of mind, gifted with a clear, well-poised intellect and good natural endowments, his apprehension quick and judgment accurate. No one could more nicelv or justlv discriminate the de- fects or excellencies of a performance or e.K- hibition of talent or genius, but his good sense and self-diffidence generally sup- pressed the declaration of his sentiments. He \alued and ap]:)reciated erudition in all its branches and for all its legitimate pur- poses, and strove patiently and laboriously to acquire an extensive knowledge of sound literature. He was a rapid, correct and in- structive writer. He could speak, too, and when he did so it told with effect — it was always to the point. He was a firm, con- sistent and conscientious Catholic, but his homage was a reasonable one. He was not fanatic or visionary. His veneration for religion and its ministers was not servile or forced, not springing from ignorance or superstition, but voluntary and enlightened. For those who differed from him in his re- ligious convictions he retained neither hatred nor prejudice. His nature was to show re- spect and proper appreciation for the honest opinion and convictions of his fellow crea- tures, Ijut he did not display aggressiveness e\-en when con\'inced of the justness of his cause ; hence the respect in which his opin- ions were e\-er held by those who did not agree or coincide with them." REV. ROBERT B. CONDON. Re\-. Robert B. Condon, of Reedsburg, Sauk countv. is a native of Chicago, Illinois. His father was Thomas D. Condon and his mother, still living, Katherine M.(Carberry) Condon. Father Condon completed his classical and philosophical courses at Camsius Col- lege, Buffalo, New York, in 1 891, graduating with the highest honors, first in his class. I'pon his graduation he received the degree of A. B., the next year the degree of A. M. He pursued his theological studies at St. REY, ROBERT B. COHDOS. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 513 Thomas' Seminary, St. Paul, ami at St. John's Seminary, Collegeville, Minnesota. After his ordination Father Condon was as- sistant pastor of St. Gabriel's church, Prairie du Chien. He was then appointed pastor of St. Phillip's church, Crawford county, and is now pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic church, Reedshurg, with W'infield and I^el- lona as missions. Father Conxion is identified with many public movements. He was president of the committee for organizing the public library of Reedsburg. He was one of the first con- tributors to the nubile library fund, and de- livered a lecture for the benefit of the library. As an evidence of his widespread and gen- eral p(jpularitv he was prominently men- tioned as a candidate for congress on the Democratic ticket from his district, the third Wisconsin, but positi\ely declined to enter the political arena. An extract from a ^Memorial Day ad- dress of Father CondiMi is the leading ar- ticle in the Memorial Day pamphlet issued by the state department of public instruc- tion for 1900. As an orator, it is uni\ersany conceded. Father Contlon has no superior, and as a citizen and a man is held in the highest es- teem. Ever reatly for the ad\-ancement and welfare of his fellow man, he is a model worker, sjiaring no time or labor to enhance the advantage and enlarge the interests of the city, county and state of his residence. A portrait of this noble Christian gentleman, who has won the warmest regard of all who know him, is shown elsewhere in this volume. JOHN PARDEE, Dece.\sed. John Pardee, deceased, was, during his residence in Colum])ia county, one of the prominent pioneer settlers of Pardeeville, which place was founded by his son, John S. Pardee. He was born in Norfolk, Litch- field county, Connecticut, February 15, 1796, and was a son of Ebenezer and Anna (Miner) Pardee. His ancestors came from France and were among the first Huguenots to come to America. Fler father was a shoe- maker in early life and spent the greater part of his declining years on a farm in New York state. The grandfather of our subject, Eben- ezer Pardee ( i ) was married to Anna Rich- ards. He enlisted in Captain Rogers' Com- pany of Continental Troops at Cornwall, Connecticut, and participated in numerous engagements, inckuHng the battle of White Plains, where he was severely wounded and died there a few davs later. \Mien our subject was but sixteen years of age the father's death forced the care of the fami]\- u].)on him. He served during the war (jf 1812 as a lieutenant, and in 1824 went to Wadsworth, Ohio, where he fol- lowed mercantile pursuits successfully until 1849, ^vl^en he removed to Pardeeville. Wis- consin, where he continued to reside until his death. Our subject chose Eunice Chamlierlain, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Harris) Chamberlain, as his life com])anion. Mrs. Pardee was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1800, and died July 2. 1869. Eight chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pardee, as follows: John S., founder of Pardeeville, died at Juan del .Sur, Nicaragua, while ser\-ing as United States consul : Caroline, who Ijecame the wife of William N. Pardee, and died at Battle Creek, Michigan ; Emily, who married A. M. Hanchett and died at Marshall, Wisconsin: Miner\-a, widow of Joseph Ltley, of Hagerstown, Maryland ; Charles J., for some years a prominent citi- zen of Pardeeville, died at Fox Lake, Wis- consin; Kirby died in childhood: Virginia Maria, now Mrs. Y. Ashley, of Pardeeville, 514 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Wisconsin ; and Jane, now Mrs. George Vilas, of Whitewater, Wisconsin. Mr. Pardee died in Pardeevilie, Wiscon- sin, June 26, 1873. He was one of tlie most prominent members of tlie Masonic frater- nity, and was also ]Trominent in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fell(>ws and large numbers from both orders participated in the funeral services. He was liberal in his political and religious views, and was firm in his convictions. HON. YATES ASHLEY, Deceased. Among the prominent and influential pio- neers of Pardeevill.e a foremost rank was ac- corded this gentleman during his residence there. He labored zealously for the ad- vancement of his community and was deeply mourned at his death. Mr. Ashley was born in West Bloomfield, New York, September 10, 1824, and was a son of Dan- ■ iel and Hattie (Cooper) Ashley. Our subject's father was a descendant of Robert Ashley, of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, who was a prominent pioneer of that place. When our subject was about three years of age he removed with his par- ents to Nunda, New York, wliere he at- tended the district school and Nunda Liter- ary Institution, where he studied surveying and civil engineering. He later clerked in a store there, and in 1844 he went to Madi- son, Indiana, and later visited New Orleans and other southern cities. His former em- ployer at Nunda solicited him to join him at Milwaukee and accept a position in his store there, and he reached that city in Jan- uary, 1845. He then made a trip to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, where he and his father er;tered claim to six hundred acres of gov- ernment land, and our subject continued his clerkship in Milwaukee until the spring of 1849, when he joined John S. Pardee at Pardeevilie, and assumed charge of his store tliere and grist-mill, then in course of erec- t'on. He was soon afterward appointed the first postmaster of Pardeevilie, and later spent one year at Whitewater and about a year in the engineer ciirps of the Alilwau- kee & LaCrosse Railroad CompauA-. In April, 1855, he acquired an interest in the water power at Pardeevilie and proceeded to complete the mill, which began operation in November, 1856, and he retained an in- terest in the property until his death. Mr. Ashley was appointed mail clerk on the C. M. & St. P. R. R. March 3, iSGy, and con- tinued as head clerk until 1885, when he was discharged for political reasons, being the first postal clerk in Wisconsin to be removed for political reasons under the Cleveland ad- ministration. Our subject was married October 4, 1855, to Virginia Maria Pardee, a daugh- ter of John and Eunice (Chamberlain) Pardee, of Wadsworth, Ohio. Five chil- dren were born to this union, who were as follows : John Stanley, residing in Cleve- land, Ohio; Carrie Frances died in Octolier, 1863, aged three years; Ernest Partridge, of Pardeevilie, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Louis Pardee, of Pardeevilie ; and Jessie Helen, now Mrs. H. E. Spear, of Pardeevilie. John Ashley was born in Pardeevilie, Wisconsin, September 12, 1856, and was educated at the i)ublic schools and at a pri\-ate school in Ocono- mowoc. Pie learned telegraphy in Pardee- vilie and followed the same at different sta- tions luitil 1890, since which time he has been local managing agent of the M. .\. Flanna Company, an extensive coal company of Cleveland, Ohio. Louis Pardee i\shley was born June 15, 1868, and was educated in the public schools. He spent several years in a store at Pardeevilie, and one year in the employ of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 515 Company, and later conducted a mercantile establishment at Dorchester, ^^'isc^)nsin, where he continued about five years. Since 1895 he has de\'oted his attention to car- penter work and the study of architecture. Hon. Yates Ashley died at Pardeeville, June 2;^, 1897. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of the Wisconsin Consistory of Milwaukee, and a charter member of J'ardee Ludge at Pardeeville. He was elect- ed a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1862 and re-elected the f(jllowing year. In 1865 he was appointed by Go\'ernor Lew- is as a trustee of the Wisconsin Hospital for Insane and served until that board was aliol- ished. Politically he was a Republican. ERNEST PARTRIDGE ASHLEY. Ernest Partridge Ashley, a well-known citizen of Pardeeville, commands the high- est esteem and respect of his associates, and was an active candidate for sheriff of Co- lumbia county, before the con\'ention in 1900. He is public-spirited and progressive and is a thorough business man and exem- plary citizen. He is a native of Pardeeville, and was born February 15, 1862. A biography of the father of our sub- ject, Hon. Yates Ashley, appears elsewhere in this work. Ernest P. Ashley attended the pulilic schocil and wnrked in his father's mill a number of years. He entered the employ of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. Company in 1885, and became a conductor on the North- ern division, and was in their employ about ten years. Since 1895 li^ ^''^'^ charge of the mill at Pardeeville until the spring of 1900, when the property was sold. He then became a candidate for sheriff of Columbia county. Our subject was married October 28, 1896, to Effie Amelia Hood, a daughter of Isaac L. antl Amelia (Ellis) Hood, of Beaver Dam, \Visconsin. Mrs. Ashley was born in Beh'idere, Illinois. Her father was a nati\-e of X'ew York and came to Wiscon- sin and settled at Ashippun about 1861. He enlisted in the Forty-seventh Regiment. Company D, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Ten- nessee, July 23, 1865. Mrs. Ashley's mother re-married and became Mrs. Lorenzo D. Liv- ermore, and now resides at Beaver Dam, W'isconsin.- Two children ha\-e been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, both of whom dietl in infancy. Mr. Ashley is a member of the O. R. C. and Ft. Winnebago Lodge and Ft. Winnebago Chapter, A. F. & A. .\l. He is a man of prominence in his communitv md represented the village on the countv board of supervisors five years, and is now a member of the village board of trustees, these facts attesting the confidence reposed ir him by his fellow citizens. CHARLES H. HOUGHTON. Nature and her phenomena make every man a student, but it is only^hose who fol- low agriculture as a pursuit who are closely linked with her many forms. They have the opportunity to observe her every change, and take ad\-antage of the more propitious ones. In the ]:)ursuit of this calling the gentleman above named has met with suc- cess, and onl_v through keen observance and earnest efforts. He has been a resident of Adams township, Adams county, for thirty years and in that time has witnessed the growth and development of that region and assisted it to its present high plane. He had naught with which to begin, aside from a courageous heart and willing mind, and a good ph\'siiiue. and is now one of the sub- stantial men of his community. 516 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Mr. Houghton was born at Lyndon, Caledonia county, Vermont, January 26, 1833, and was the son of Horace and Ade- line (Balch) Houghton, natives of Ver- mont. His father was a carpenter by trade, and went to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, in 1839, where he remained until his death in 1849. T'le mother died in 1884 and is buried in Kenosha. Our subject came to Wisconsin with Iiis parents when six years of age, going with teams from Vermont to St. Joe, Michigan, thence by boat to Chicago. He attended the public schools and received a good edu- tion. At the age of twenty he learned the trade of iron molder at Kenosha and \\orked there until 1861. In that vear he enlisted in Company A, McClellan Dra- goons, and served as body guard for Gen- eral McClellan. He later enlisted in the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and became a member of Company H. He saw service at Gettysburg, and was under Burnside, Hooker and Meade. He was discharged in 1866, his being the last Illinois regiment mustered out of service. For about three years after he left the service he worked at his trade in Kenosha, and in 1869 came to Adams township, Adams county, and pur- chased two hundred acres of kuul. It was almost all wikl land, and the only dwelling was a log cabin. He now has seventy acres under cultivation, and has erected a com- fortable house and good barns, and engages in general farming. For a number of years after he took up his residence in Adams county, be went to the city to work at his trade during the winter months. For three j-ears be worked for the Esterly Harvester 'Works, at \\'hitewater, Wisconsin, which furnished him lucrative emi)loyment for the winter and early spring and permitted him to work the farm during the farming season. Mr. Houghton was married in 1866 to Elizabeth Park, daughter of Elisha Park, of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mrs. Houghton died November 20, 1894, and rests at Friendship, Wisconsin. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Houghton, as follows: Jennie A., now Mrs. Frank Pease, of Chicago; and Horace H., residing at home. The son was married September 30, 1894, to Lena Iveson, daughter of Henry and C}'nt]iia I\-e- son, of Adams township. Mr. Houghton is a meiuber of Badger Post, No. 122, G. A. R., at Friendship. He is a Republican in political sentiment, but does not take an active part in politics. He is interested in the welfare of his township and county, and is one of the loyal men of Wisconsin, and enjoys the respect of his en- tire communitv. GEORGE TITUS SIMONS. George Titus Simons is one of the best known citizens of Lodi, Columbia county, Wisconsin, and a man of much character and influence. He was born at Amsterdam, Montgomery county. New York, April 7, 1829, and is a son of Titus and Elizabeth (Sharp) Simons. The father was born in Montgomery county, and died about 1833 at the age of fifty-five. During the war of 1812 he kept a boarding house in Quebec. Mrs. Elizabeth Simons was born near Que- bec, and died at Amsterdam when about sixty-five years old. Her parents were of Holland lineage. She was the mother of eight sons antl one daughter. One son died in infancy. William C. died in Lodi. John D. died near Mineral Point, ^\'isconsin, and Joseph, who went to California in 1849, •'''-''1 in that state. Ann is the widow of A. W. Kline, and li\-es at Amsterdaiu. Roswell D. died in Lodi. James and George T. are still living. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 517 George Titus Simons attendetl scliool in his native place and in 1846 left home for Wisconsin. He made the journey around the lakes, landed in Milwaukee, and walked a good part of the way to Lodi.' Here he hired out as a farm hand for se\'en di.illars a month. Two years later the young man thought he would secure a home, ami, as the saying is, "took u])" a nice tract of land, comprising one hundred and twenty aci'es a mile or so from Lodi, and when he had perfected his title went back to the east, and worked for several years in a piano factory at Albany, and became skilled in fine cabinet work. In the fall of 1851 Mr. Simons came back to Lodi, and in onler to recruit his health spent the following winter on an island in the Wisconsin river below Merri- mac, engaged in cutting wood which he sold to steamboats the next summer. There were three steamers then making regular trips in the Wisconsin river traffic, all doing well, running between Prairie du Chien and Port- age. He also kept a small store opposite the present village of Merrimac. In 1852 Mr. Simons began the manufacture of fine cabinet goods at Lodi. He found a ready market at home for e\'erything he could pro- duce. For some years he and his partner were the only mechanics in the town. In 1856 he opened a hotel, the Simons House, and conducted it himself for about a year. It was headcjuarters for the stage line be- tween Madison and Baraboo. Mr. Simons was engaged in farming for a time, and in 1865 resumed the hotel business and was in it for about four years. In 1871 he went on the road with a patent broom which took him over Wisconsin and part of Michigan. In the meantime he had a livery stable which he ran from i860 to 1894. This business was his main occupation and he found it the most satisfactory and profitable of all his enterprises. In 1878 Mr. Simons re-fur- nished and enlarged his hotel and opened it once more for the pulilic i)atronage, and was its acti\-e landlortl until 189 J, since which time he has lived in practical retirement. This establishment, known as the Briggs House, is still, the leading hotel of the town. In 1855 Mr. Simons was appointed dep- uty sheriff at Lodi, and continued to fill the duties of that position for twelve years. He conducted a paint shop for a long time, and was a capable and efficient house and sign painter. He has erected at different times a number of buildings in Lodi, and still owns several of them. Mr. Simons has in Ifis own home several pieces of very fine and artistic furniture, which were made by him through- out. He is a horseman of zeal and knowledge, and has owned some of the l:)est Ijred horses in the state. He invus at the present time "Ben Bolt," a fine bred stallion, contljining some of the best strains of driving horses in the workl, and capable of showing as- tonishing bursts of speed. Mr. Simons was married to Miss Me- lissa Burroughs, May 3, 1853. Her father, William Burroughs, was a captain in the United States army during the war of 1812, and spent the last few years of his life in Columbia county. He died in Lodi. Mrs. Simons died in Lodi, Januarj^ i, 1892, at the age of fifty-seven years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and left three chiklren : Harley N. is a banker of Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, and was formerly a banker at Evansville and Albany, Wisconsin. Jessie is the widow of M. Hay- den, and lives in Lodi. Etta married Burt Clements and lives in Alljert Lea, Minnesota. There are eight grandchildren in the family. Though he makes no religious profes- sions, Mr. Simons has contributed very lib- erally to the general growth and develop- ment of all the churches and many other public enterprises in Lodi. He has been a Republican since the formation of the party, though he has never sought an office. 518 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. . ALEXANDER RODGERS. Alexander Rodj^ers, one of Adams county's most successful a^xiculturists, whose pleasant home is situated in Jackson township, is a native of Marquette county, Wisconsin, born in the township of Mound- ville, March 19, 1852. His parents, John and Margaret (Giller) Rodgers, were na- tives of Scotland. The father, a typical Scotchman, \\as born in Markinch parish, F'ifeshire, Scotland, April 15, 1819. He came to America in 184Q, settling at Fox Lake, antl later in Marcjuette county, where he died January ^i, 1891, at the age of sev- enty-two years. He was a very successful farmer, and a member of the Scotch Pres- b\'terian church. Our subject's mother died about three years before the death of her husband. Alexander Rodgers was reared to man- hood in Marquette county. In 1879 he pur- chased his present homestead farm, in Adams county, and he is now the owner of two hundred acres of the best land in the county, well improved and enhanced in value by the addition of many modern conven- iences of rural life, including a large and commodious residence, erected in 1885. He gives considerable attention to live stock, and has made farming a success. Mr. Rodgers was married December 13, 1877, to Eliza M. Round, daughter of Rev. Almon L. and Henrietta (Clark) Round. Mrs. Rodgers was born at Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin, March 4, 1853. She taught school several years in Columbia and Mar- quette counties. Her father was a native of Taunton, Massachusetts, and was a Bap- tist minister. He preached some years in Marcellon and elsewhere in Columbia coun- t)', Wisconsin. He came to W^isconsin in 1850, and died in Marquette countv March 20, 1880, aged fifty-nine years. His wife Avas Ijiirn in Willett, Cortland county, N. Y., and is still living at the aee of sixty- se\'en years. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers are the parents of fi\-e children, named in the order of their birth as follows: Carrie, now Mrs. Fred Gorsline, of Buffalo township, Mar- quette county; John; Ray; Almon, and Margaret. IMr. and ]\L-s. Rodeers and their datighter Carrie are members of the Presbyterian church at Oxford, where the family worships. Their home is one of re- finement and culture. ]Mr. Rodgers has turned his success in his calling to the pro- viding" of those means of education and re- finement so rarely found in country homes, and it is difficult to estimate the great influ- ence for enlightenment and good exerted by such homes in advancing the better interests of the communities where they are found. I\Ir. Rodgers is a member of the Oxford Camp, M. W. A. He has been a life-long Republican, but has never sought political preferijient. He is held in high respect and esteem bj- the entire community in which he resides. STEPHEi\ HOFSTATTER, Deceased. Stephen Hofstatter, deceased, was a thrifty and prosperous citizen of Baraboo, Wisconsin, who took an active part in pro- moting its substantial improvement and ma- terial development. An adopted son of America, his loyalty was above question and his labors in the interests of the city and county were most effective and beneficial. Mr. Hofstatter was born in Munich, Ba- varia, March 17, 1819, and died in Baraboo, May 21, 1890. His parents were Robert and Agnes Marguerite (Schutte) Hofstat- ter. The father, who was a farmer by oc- cupation, spent his entire life near jNIunich. Five of his sons were snkliers of the Bavar- ian army, including our subject, who was in the service for a number of years. 1\\ his COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 519 r.ative land he learned the carjjenter's trade, antl remained there until 1856, when he emi- grated to the New World and located on a farm on Sauk prairie, Sauk county, Wiscon- son, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for twelve years. That place is in the possession of his heirs. In connection with the operation of liis land he also worked at the carpenter's trade, erecting a numher of buildings for the earlv settlers in his neighborhood. ^Ir. Hofstatter manifested his patriot- ism and love for his adopted country by his service in the Civil war, enlisting February 24, 1863, in Company A, Thirty-sixth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. Under com- mand of General Hancock he took part in several important engagements, including the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, and the battles of Deep Bottom, Reams Station and Hatchie's Run. At Reams Station, while going after water, he was captured August 25, 1864, and confined in Libby prison until February 20, 1865, when he was exchanged and came home on a furlough to try to recuperate, his health being ruined by the abuse he suffered there. He was finally discharged May 11, 1865, as hostilities had ceased and his services were jno longer needed. Finding himself unfitted for farm labor, Mr. Hofstatter removed to Baraboo in 1868, aiid for a time was engaged in business there, but spent most of the remainder of his life in retirement from active business. He erected a two-story brick store building, v.hich is still one of the principal business blocks of the town, and in other ways was prominently identified with public affairs. On the 14th of February, 1854, Mr. Hofstatter married Miss Carolina Freder- icka Schwerdtfegger, who is still a resident of Baraboo. She was born at Geratstac- ten, near Stuttgart, Wurtemburg, Ger- many, a daughter of Gottlieb and Kath- erina ;\Iarguerite (Leder) Schwerdtfegger. Her father was a dealer in glassware. To our subject and his wife were born four children, namely: John Robert, a well- known merchant, of Baraboo; Katherina Marguerite, wife of George McCaskey, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Matilda Lou- ise, wife of James A. McCaskey, of St. Paul, Minnesota; and William Tobias, a journal- ist, who has s])ent some time as a reporter for newspapers in New York and other cities. Mr. Hofstatter was reared in the Rom- an Catholic faith, but ne\-er united with any church in Baraboo. He was a member of Joseph Hooker Post, No. 9, G. A. R., of Baraboo, and was a stanch supporter of the Republican party but never an office seeker, preferring the peace and contentment of pri- vate life except when he felt that the preservation of the nation demanded his services. He was always found true to every trust reposed in him and commanded the re- spect and confidence of all with wdiom he came in contact either in public or private life. PETER NELSON PETERSON. Peter Nelson Peterson, a prosperous ag- riculturist and dairyman, residing in Jack- son township, Adams county, is one of the foremost men of his calling, and has been a resident of that region for many years. He is among that class of farmers who progress in their work and modern methods are used in carrying on his estate. He has made a success, and is respected throughout his community, as a gentleman of integrity and honest dealings. Mr. Peterson was born near Copenhag- en, Sj;eland Island, Denmark, January 3, 520 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 1846, and was the son of Nels and Margaret (Albright) Peterson, nati\es of the same locahty. Her father was a farmer in his native land, and was employed for some time at road building. He came to America with his family in 1867, and after sev-entcen days on board the steamer landed at New York. He settled in Adams county, Wis- consin, in 1868, and now resides at O.xford, Wisconsin, aged eighty-three years. The mother of our subject is seventy-six years of age, and both she and her husband are still active and industrious and have gained a comfortable competence by their labors. Our subject remained with his parents until 1881 when he located on his present farm, which adjoins the homesteatl farm. He is the possessor of (jue hundred and thirty acres of well improved land', and his farm is supplied with a complete set of farm buildings, part of which he has erected since taking up his residence thereon. He gives his attention chiefly to dairying, and h'is herd of cows consists principall}^ of high grade Durhams. Our subject was married April 20, 1879, to Mrs. Mary Johnson, widow ©f Thomas Johnson, and the daughter of Oliver and El- sie Strusley, of Houston, Minnesota. Mrs. Peterson was born in Norway and came to America with her parents when she was but five years of age. Her father was a farmer and settled first on the site of the pres- ent city of St. Paul, Minnesota. He after- ward moved to Houston when that lo- cality was a wilderness, where both he and his wife died. Mrs. Peterson died March 13, 1899, aged fifty-two years. She had one daughter by her former marriage, Lot- tie, now Mrs. A. Conger, residing in Jack- son township. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, as follows : Charles, Laura and William. Mr. Peterson became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and has since voted the Republican ticket. He is a gentleman who is well versed on the topics under daily discussion, and takes an interest in the welfare of his community. JOHN CINDER. John Cinder, a ]jrominent contractor and builder of Portage, Wisconsin, has for over half a century been identified with the de- velopment and prLisperity of that city, and on all sides may be seen evidences of his handiwork. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and of Cerman descent. His grandfather, Philip Cinder, was born in Germany, and came to America prior to the Revolution- ary war. He made the first discovery of coal in Pennsylvania, and it proved to be the world renowned Lehigh Valley coal. While out hunting he came across a tree which had been uprooted and blown over. In the excavation he discovered what he thought to be a peculiar kind of rock, and taking a piece showed it to one of his neighbors, Thomas Wise, who investigated and found it to be hard coal. As the land on which it was found belonged to the government, Mr. Wise entered it and afterward purchased the same, but did not have the means to de- velop the property and afterward sold it to a company, who founded the present Lehigh Coal Company. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, Philip Cinder was one of the first to shoulder a musket and go to the defense of the colonies, serving through- out the entire eight years of the war. Jacob Cinder, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1780, and fol- lowed the occupations of a farmer and mill- stone cutter. He was a soldier of the war of 1 81 2, and fought under Ceneral Jack- son in the battle of New Orleans. On re- ceiving his discharge he resumed farming in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, where he re- '''*^ COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 528 mained until liis deatli, wliicli occurred in 1846. In 1 814 lie married Catherina Dau- benspeck. and to tlieni were born ten chil- dren, (ine lit wlmni died at the age of fue years. '1 bey were: l)a\id ; Pauline; Isaac; Jacob; James, a li\e stuck buyer of Nebras- ka; Philip, a carpenter of Mauch Chunk, I'ennsylvania ; Catherine; John, our subject; and Daniel, also a carpenter of Portage, Wisconsin. It was in 1847 that our subject left his native state and came to Wisconsin. After spending some time in Milwaukee, be re- moved to Portage in January, 1850, and here he has since made bis home. On locating here the town was known as Gougeville, and all the business was done at Fort Winnebago, the present site of Portage being at that time Indian land. Mr. Cinder bought the place where he now resides in 1855. Here he has worked at the carpenter's trade with good success, and has erected some of the best buildings in the city. On the 13th of October, 1855, Mr. Cinder married Miss Hannah Slifer, who came to Portage from Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, with her parents in 1849. Her father was also a carpenter by trade, and continued to follow that occupation through- out life. To our subject and his wife have been born nine children, namely : Charles Francis, a locomotive engineer, residing in Portage; Eliza Sophia; Hannah L., wife of John Brenner, of Olympia, Washington, who is a contractor in the lumber woods and the owner of a large oyster bed at that place; George W., also a railroad engineer; Esther E., wife of Daniel Hill, a farmer living near Huntley, Minnesota ; Sarah ; Addie N. ; Daniel I. and Mary J. Since casting his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, Mr. Cinder has been unwavering in his support of the men and measures of the Democratic party. For thirty-eight years he has been an honored and prominent member of Winnebago Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., in which he has filled nearly all of the otifices. In all the re- lations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and is held in liigh regard by his fellow citizens. A por- trait of him appears upon one of the pages of this volume, and will be duly appreciated by his numerous and admiring friends. JAMES PRICE. James Price, an honored veteran of the great Civil, war, in wliich be conducted him- self with such signal bravery and displayed such ability that he rose from the ranks to become a lieutenant, is now passing the eve- ning of his days in the quiet and peace of the little village of Poynette, Columbia coun- ty, far removed from the thunder and light- ning of that gigantic struggle in which he played such a manly part. Mr. Price was born in Albany, New York, September 12, 1832, and is a son of John and Mary (McCann) Price. John Price was for twenty-one years a gallant soldier of the British army, and it may be well said that his martial spirit descended to his son, who proved himself no unworthy offspring of such a warlike sire. He was a native of Cheshire, England, and during the war of 1812 came to this country. He fought at the battle of Plattsburg, where he was severely wounded. He was in the bat- tle of Waterloo under command of the Duke of Wellington. When peace returned he was stationed in Ireland, where he mar- ried Mary McGann. After the expiration of his services as a soldier he came to the United States in 1831, lived in New York, where he died four years later at the age of sixty-five. His widow afterwards mar- ried Michael Early, and died in New Leb- 524 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. anon, Xew York, in Marcli, 1850. at tlie age of forty-five. Her husband survived her many years, and died in Dekorra township, Cohunbia count}', W'isconsin, when over eigl^ity years. John and Mary Price liad eight children, and Mr. and Mrs. Early be- came the parents of four. James Price spent his early days on a farm in the state of New York, and in 1850 made his first appearance in W'isconsin. Five years later the young man bought two hun- dred acres of land in Lowville township, and devoted his life to its improvement and cul- tivation. He occupied it until 1899, when he rented it to his son, and moved into the village of Poynette where he owns a neat and comfortable residence. As noted above, l\Ir. Price has a most creditable record as a soldier of the Union. He enlisted Septem- ber 9, 1861, in Company E, Second Wiscon- sin Volunteer Cavalry, and was discharged December 16, 1865, a period that covered the most exciting scenes of the greatest and most magnificent war the world has ever seen. During this time he was mainly en- gaged in the Department of the Mississippi, being frequently employed on scouting and outpost duty. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and had a hand in many of the greatest battles of the west. Twenty-three of his company were captured at Yazoo City in December, 1864, though he escaped. He covered many thousand miles in the sad- dle, and had many interesting and thrilling- experiences. One week he rode from St. Louis by way of Jefferson City, Springfield and Ozark, to Helena, Arkansas, a distance of nearly five hundred miles. Mr. Price and Miss Emily S. Mason, a daughter of Boomer and Sarah (Ripley) Mason, were married November 5, 1855. Mrs. Price was born in Rutland, Vermont, and came with the family to Wisconsin in 1853. Her father died in Adams county, Wisconsin, when over eighty-six. Her mother lived to be eighty-four. Her ances- tor, Nathaniel Ripley, came to this country in the "Mayflower," and a number of genera- tions of his descendants made their home in Vermont. The father of Mrs. Sarah Rip- ley served in the war of 181 2. Mr. and ]\Irs. f^'ice ha\-e had a numer- ous family, and their oldest son, James C, lives in Belgrade, Montana. Maria E. mar- ried C. M. Theissen and died in Leeds town- ship, Columbia county; Ella A. is the wife of L-a C. Luce, of Poynette; Lewis died when eighteen months of age; Sarah E. lives in Lowville; Mary A. died in 1888 at the age of nineteen years ; Fred C. is in the bank at Poynette; Charles Elwyn lives in LowN'ille on the home farm; Albert E. Lives in Belgrade, Montana : he served in Com- pany F, Third \Visconsin Infantry, during the Cuban war ; Nettie May married Hugh Jamieson and lives in Poynette; Otto W. is in Lowville; Leonard A. is a farmer in Adams county, Wisconsin. There are six grandchildren in the family. Mrs. Price is a member of the Presby- terian church of Poynette. Mr. Price be- longs to Rousseau Post, No. 14, Grand Army of the Republic, at Portage, and is a Democrat of independent proclivities. He has held all the local offices in Lowville, been chairman of the town board six years, clerk six years, and while a member of the county board served on the committee that purchased and established the poor farm at W3'ocena. He also took an active part in the establishment of the Columbia County Lasane Asylum, and the erection of suitable buildings for it. CHARLES MAIR. Charles Mair, one of the leading farm- ers of Arlington township, Columbia coun- ty, is widely known as the proprietor of the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 525 "Fairview Stock Farm," and a man of indus- trious habits and upriglit character. Mr. Mair was born near New Mihis, Ayr- shire, Scotland, December 13, 1844, and is a .son of Thomas Mair, whose biography appears on anotlier page of this work. He came with his parents to the United States in 1849, and never set eyes on his native land again until 1897, when he had the pleasure of spending some months in that storied land. He spent his early boyhood in the town of Lima, Grant county, Wisconsin, and in 1855 came into Columbia county. In 1868 Mr. Mair, at that time a young man of twenty- four years of age, bought one hundred acres of land, which became the nucleus of one of the most attractive and pleasant farms in Columbia county. He has increased his acre- age by subsequent purchase until he is now the owner of a half section of tillable land. He has erected tine buildings in the center of the tract, and given it the name of "The Fairview Farm." It is one of the most val- uable rural estates in Columbia county. Mt. Mair has given his attention very largely to the raising of Clydesdale horses, Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China swine. Much of his stock is finely bred, and is rapi'dly imjjroving. Fie sends to market annually ab(jut four car loads of stock, and his cattle run well to the head of the market. He is also a large stockholder in the Ma- rengo Farm and Live Stock Company, which owns about ten thousand acres in northern Wisconsin. This corporation is paying large returns on the investment and contemplates some material improvements in the near fu- ture. The Mair family are associated with the United Presbyterian church at Arlington, and Mr. Mair is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Demo- crat but exercises the privilege of independ- ent voting. He has filled several important town offices, and is a man who commands the confidence and respect of his associates in agriculture and in business in this part of the county, not only by his excellent busi- ness habits but also by his upright character and kindly disposition. Charles Mair and Margaret Caldow were married July 4, 1865. She is a daughter of William and Janet (Kenneth) Caldow, and was born on a farm called "Chippelton," near Stewarttown, Ayrshire. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mair are Nettie K. ; Thomas H., a grain dealer at Morrisonville, Wiscon- sin; William, a grain dealer at Charter Oak, Iowa ; Hugh C. ; Agnes, now Mrs. James W. Stevenson, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; and John R. All, these children have had good educational advantages and Hugh C. is a graduate of the Story Business College at Portage. In 1852 William Caldow started for America with his famil)- in the sailing ves- sel, "Ellen Thom]3son." The ship was wrecked on the banks of Newfoundland, and the passengers rescued by a salt vessel. The "Ellen Thompson" sank twenty minutes after the last person was taken ofi^. Mr. Caldow and his family saved only the clothes they wore. They came through New Bruns- wick and thence to the west. They made a protracted stay in Illinois, and in 1856 lo- cated in the town of Caledonia, Columbia county, and lived there many years. Mr. Caldow spent his last days in the town of Arlington, where he died March 9, 1888, in his eighty-third year. Before he left Scotland he was a member of a cavalry regiment of home guards. He was a member of the Unit- ed Presbyterian church, and a Republican. He was a member of the town board and of the county board for some years. Mrs. Janet Caldow died in January, 1869, at the age of sixty 3-ears. She was the mother of four sons and five daughters : Adams, of Win- neshiek county, Iowa; William, cashier of the bank at Lodi, Wisconsin; Peter K., now living a retired life at Janesville, Wiscon- 526 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. sin ; and John, a niercliant at C(ileman, South Dakota. All are accomphslied business men and stand well in the world. Anna married Alexander Harvey and died at Aurora, Illi- nois, in 1868; Elizabeth is the wife of Rob- ert Caldwell, one of the most successful farmers in the town of Arlington. Mrs. Caldwell died in 1888; Janet married Will- iam Dunlop and died at Poynette February 27, 1892; Margaret is Mrs. Charles Mair; and INlartha is Mrs. John Neal, of Arlington. WILLIS ELLSWORTH SNYDER. Adams county. Wisconsin, is not with- out her full quota of intelligent and enter- prising farmers, and foremost among those of New Haven township stands the gentle- man whose name introduces these para- graphs. He has not engaged in that call- mg many years, Init has steadily pushed himself to the front and is recognized as one of the rising young men of his community. He is a member of one of the leading fam- ilies of Adams county, and at present re- sides on the Snyder homestead, and aside from his farming, devotes a share of his time to teaching. Mr. Snyder was born in Kilbourn, Wis- consin, April 29, 1867, the son of Alfred and Jane (Whii^nle) Snyder. The great- grandfather of our subject came from Ger- many and settled in New York, and the grandfather, George Snyder, moved to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he died, his wife, Caroline Snyder, passing away in New York. Our subject's father, Alfred Snyder, was born in Sardinia, Erie county, New "I'ork, Sei^tember 19, 1833, and died in the town of New Haven, Adams county, Wis- consin, June 3, 1886. He lived some years in Pennsylvania, and came to \Visconsin about 1854, locating at Stevens Point, where he was engaged in lumbering, and also had more or less logging contracts. He later lived in Marathon county, and in 1863 moved to Ailams county. He enlisted in Battery F, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, August 19, 1864, and on account of dis- ability was discharged February 22,. 1865, after he had spent some time in Fort Lyon l.ospital. iVfter the war he was employed in operating a ferry on the Wisconsin river at Kilbourn and in 1874 he purchased a farm in section 16, New Haven township, Adams county, where he resided until his death. He clearetl most of the land and made im- pro\-ements. and left the farm to his heirs at his death. He had filled the principal oflices in his township, and for a time was under sheriff of Adams county. He took an active part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community, and attended numerous conventions. He was a Republican in po- litical faith and worked zealously ftir his party. He was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Feflows, and John Gd- lespie Post, G. A. R.. at Kilbourn. FIis marriage to Jane E. Whipple, the mother of our subject, occurred Januai^y 28, 1856. Mrs. Snyder was the daughter of Samuel and Marcy (Aldrich) Whipple, the father of Welch lineage, and both natives of Ver- mont. Her father settled in Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1854. and died June 8, 1867, aged seventy years. Her mother died in Pennsylvania, in 1843, aged forty- four years. Mrs. Snyder is the mother of three sons, Charles L., a resident of New Haven township; Frank L. died in 1866, aged two years; and Willis E., our subject. W. E. Snyder attended the public schools of his native place and in 1894 com- pleted a course in the Capital City Commer- cial College, at Des Moines, Iowa. He taught school for several years, and for a time was employed in a store at Victor. Colorado. Since 1896 he has resided on the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 527 liomestead farm in New Haven township, Adams county, and the estate hears evidence oi prosperous management and care. He also spends a portion of his lime as an m s;ructor in the puhhc schools. Mr. Snyder was married Septemher U- 1892, to Beulah Powers, daughter of Oscar and Louise (Rider) Powers, and a native of Adams county, Wisconsin. The father of Mrs. Snyder died in Canada, and her mother resides in Big Springs, Wisconsin. Two children ha\-e been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder: Marjorieand Wesley Howard. Both our subject and wife are members of the Congregational church at Big Springs, and ]\Ir. Snyder holds membership in Hustler Camp. Modern W'oodmen of Amer- ica, and is treasurer of the local lodge. In political sentiment he is a Republican and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He is awake to the needs of his community, and is one of the puljlic-spirited men of New Haven township. GEORGE CHARLES KEITH. George Charles Keith, a successful farmer and citizen of Cohimljia county, whose long and honorable career is a credit to the state, is now living in retirement in the town of Scott. He was hi:)rn in Geauga county, Ohio, April 24, 1830, and is a son of Charles and Arethusa (Clark) Keith, both natives of Massachusetts. The father went to Ohi(j while a young man and there settled on a farm where he died December 29, 1829. The mother died in Juneau county, \Y\s- consin, in 1863. After the death of Mr. Keith she married Joseph Hewitt, who died in Todd county, Minnesota, in 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-five. The parents of Mrs. A. Keith were ])ioneers on the '■^^'estern Reserve" and died in Geauga county. Ohio. She Iiore three children to InIt. Clark: Charlotte, who married twice, her husbands being named C. Clark and Henry McClutchins; she died in Minne- apolis: IMason. living in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and George C, the subject of this biographical review. To her second husband, Joseph Hewitt, she bore a numer- ous family: John, Clarissa, Lena, Joseph and Clark (twins), Charles, Carlisle, Henry and Arethusa. Mr. Keith lived with his step-father dur- ing the first fourteen years' of his life, and accompanied the family in their removal to Walworth cnmty, Wisconsin, in 1841. Two years later he left home, and in i8j-7 came to Columbia county. '1 he next year he took up government land in the town of Scott, which he afterwards sold. He spent ten years in Marquette county. In the spring of 1867 he bought his present fanu of two l-.undred acres in the town of Scott. It had but poor improvements at the time, but to- day it shows the touch of a master hand. There are one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, and has ample and com- modious buildings. ^Ir. Keith now rents it to his son-in-law. ]\Ir. Keith and Ann E. Turner were married October 16. 1852. She died De- cember 6, 1885, while still a young woman. She was born May 20, 1832, in the city of New York, and was a daughter of \Villiam and Marv (Wood) Turner, who came to this country from Leeds, England. Her fa- th.er died in the town of Scott in 1874, at the age of eighty-four. Her mother died in the town of Lyons, Walworth county. Mrs. Keith was a woman of exemplary char- acter, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was the mother of seven children, of whom six are still living: Marinette died at the age of seven months ; William D., of Pardeeville; Willard B. and George E., of the same place; Henry N., 528 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. of the tijwn of Scott; Espy R., of Pardee- \ille; and Mary A., who married Steplien Hanson and lives on tlie old homestead. Mr. Keith enlisted in November, 1862, in Company .\. 34tli Wisconsin \'olunteer Infantry, and spent a year at the front. He re-enlisted in 1864 as a member of Com- pany G, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and was discharged at the close of the war, June 2j. 1865. His first term of service was spent on detached duty along- the Missis- sippi ri\er. and .his second term was spent on guard duty at Arlington Heights, Vir- gmia, and elsewhere. He is now a mem- ber of the William Payne Post. Grand Army of the Republic, at Pardeeville. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and has filled several local of- fices. He was a member of the town board a number of years. He is a genial and hos- pitable gentleman, is full of reminiscences of early days, and has vivid memories of the great "hard cider campaign." EDU-ARD N. TRUMBULE. Edward N. Trumlnile, the genial pro- prietor of the North Freedom Hotel, Sauk county, and an honored veteran of the Civil war, comes from a family that through many generations has been celebrated for its loyalty. His grandfather, John Trum- bule, came to this country from Ireland in 1773, and as a British soldier served for two years. After recei\-ing his discharge he enlisted in the patriot army in the I^evo- lution and aided in the defense of the col- onies until their liberty was secured, win- ning the rank of major l)y meritorious con- duct. After the war he located in Connect- icut, where he married. He was a tanner and currier by trade. His son, Ebenezer Trumbule, father of our subject, was born in Connecticut and when a young man re- moved to New York. He established and operated a tannery in Ellisburg, Jefferson county. For a number of years he served as a captain in the L'nited States army, tak- ing part in the war of 1812. He was wound- ed at Sacket Harbor, and after the war he had command of the fort at that place for about thirty years. During the Mexican war he accompanied General Scott's army to the city of Mexico on detached service. In the spring of 1849 he was placed on the retired list, and came to Wisconsin, locating at Lake Hoshkonong. Later he engaged in farming at Lemonweir, Juneau county, where he died in April, 1853, at the age of seventy-eight. In politics he was a Whig. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Temple, and was born in Leatherville, ]\Iont- gomery county, New York, where her fa- ther, Richard Temple, a native of Holland, followed farming. Her death occurred in Lemonweir, in 1870, at the age of sixty- eight. Edward Nelson Trumljule, subject of this review, was born in Schenectady, Montgomery county. New York, Septem- ber 17, 1842, and came to ^Visconsin with his parents when seven years of age. He pursued his education in the country schools during a few winter terms, and at the first call for volunteers, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted April 14, 1861, at Mauston, in Company K, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, with the "Lemonweir Minute Men." On the expiration of the three- months term he re-enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and was wounded in the right hand and hip at Pitts- burg Landing, wdiich necessitated his dis- charge November 14, 1862. On the ist of May, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company K, of the Sixth \\'isconsin Regiment, which formed a part of the "Iron Brigade." On the 8th of April, 1865, he was wounded at COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 529 Spottsylvania in the left leg, and remained in the Emergency Hospital in \\'ashingt(in until discharged, jinie 2^. i8C)5, He par- ticipated in t\vent\'-h\'c important engage- ments, inclnding the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, the seven-days battle of the Wilder- ness, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run, Dunbv's Mill, Gravelly Run, Five Forks and Appomattox. Throughout his service lie was ever loyal and brave and was frequently called upon to perform special duty in\-i)hing considerable danger and re- sponsibility. At Gettysburg he was sent in charge of several wagnnloatls of ammunitinn to replenish a battery, to reach which it was necessary to cross an open field exposed to the enemv's fire. Several of the mules at- tached to the wagon were killed. Imt he reached the battery in safety. In 1866 Mr. Trumbule began farming in the town of Freedom. Sauk county, and since 1880 he has lived in the village of North Freedom. For a number of years he conducted a livery stable, but since 1888 has engaged in the hdtel business. He was proprietor of the Hackett House for sev- eral years, but since 1896 has been widely known as the genial and obliging host of the North Freedom Hotel, which he is suc- cessfully conducting, furnishing first-class entertainment for his guests. On the 17th of May. 1867, Mr. Trum- bule was united in marriage to Miss Mary Waddell, daughter of James and Betsey A. Waddell, of the town of Freedom. Only one child has l^een born to our suljject and his wife, Edward James, and he died at the age of two years. They have man\' warm friends in the community and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Trum])ule has always upheld the policy of the Republican party, and has served in several local posi- tions, having filled the offices of police jus- tice, marshal and street commissioner in the town of Freedom, in a must acceptaljle man- ner. In business he is e\'er honorable and upright in his dealings, and he enjoys the confidence and good will nf all with whom he comes in contact. GEORGE THOMAS WILSON. George Thomas Wilson, the editor of the "Columbia County Reporter." exerts a wide influence in this part of the state, and has quite a reputation as an al>le country news- paper man. He was born in Carlisle, Eng- land, March 20, 1862, and is a srjn of George and Margaret S. (Mofifatt) Wilson. His parents still live at that place, and there his father carried on a business as carriage blacksmith until failing health compelled his retirement. The Wilson family is of Scotch extraction, and the grandfather of the subject of this article was born in Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, and was taken to Eng- land in his early childhood. His father, George Wilson, was a veterinary surgeon and horseshoer and was in business at New- castle-upon-Tyne for many years. He died when over seventy years of age. Thomas iNloffatt, the father of Mrs. Margaret S. Wil- son, was a tailor and had a shop in the same city. He died during the last cholera epi- demic in England. George T. Wilson was educated in the local schools of Carlisle, and when four- teen years old was apprenticed to the print- ing trade in that city. After the old English fashion he learned his business thoroughly and has made it his life calling. In the spring of 1889 he came to this countr}- and secured employment at the case in the office of the state printers at I'ro\-iilence, Rhode Island. He worked in a jol) office at Boston, and on the opening da}- of the year 1892 lie reached l'(_)rtage, Wisconsin. In 1895 530 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY he went into the office of the ^'Wisconsin Rundscliau," and remained there nntil tiie fall of 1899. That year he came to Rio and took cliarge of the "Columbia County Re- porter," wliich has continued under his management to the present time. He be- came a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in England, and united with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Portage. He was reared in the Church of England. He takes an active part in the Calumet Club, antl was instrumental in its oro-anization. JOHX LAFFAN. John Laffan, one of the enterprising and successful hop growers of central Wiscon- sin, was born in March, 1857, in the town of Newport, Columbia county, and is a son of Thomas and Maria (Croke) Laffan, who were pioneers of that locality. The father was born at Newport, Ireland, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic, locating in Canada, where he owned and operated a grist-mill. In the year 1850 he came to Columbia county. \\'isconsin, and named the town of Newport in remembrance of his birthplace. He secured a squatter's claim of one hundred and sixty acres, for the land \\as not then on the market, and not only developed a fine farm, but became one of the leading and influential citizens of the com- munity. He was a highly educated man, served as town superintendent of schools for some years, was town clerk for a long ]jcri(Kl and also held the office of town treas- urer. Tax receipts which he signed are still t( < be found in the county. He not only wit- nessed the progress and advancement made in the county in early days, but took an active part in the work of improvement and left the impress of his indi\iduaht\' upon the j)ublic life of the county. He met death by drowning June 22, 1858, and was buried at Portage, \\ isconsin. His widow is still I'.ving and makes her home with her son John, who kindly cares for her in her de- clining years. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, all of whom are residents of Dakota, with the exception of Thomas and John. The former was born in 1858 in the town of Newport, Columbia county, and was educated in the common and high schools of Kilbourn City. For many years he occupied a position as salesman in the store of Dixon & Sons, at Kilbourn, and later was traveling salesman for the firm of Jolin Tollman & Company, of Chicago. Still later he engaged as a clerk for Mr. Jones, of Baraboo. He is now a represent- ative of the Northwestern Mutual Life In- surance Companv and the Northwestern Insurance Company. John Laff'an, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days on the home farm, and at an early age, his father having died, he assumed management of the place. He obtained his education in the schools of the neighborhood, and was well erpiipped with a good knowledge of the English branches, for the practical duties of life. With the exception of one year passed in Dakota, he has spent his entire life upon the home farm, and .by his perseverance and industry he has met with excellent and well- deserved success. He has ninety acres un- der a high state of cultivation; most of it being jalanted to hoi:>s, and his place is known as the Xewpnrt hoj) farm. He is thoroughlv informed as to the best methods of producing hops, and his large sales each year indicate the success of his efforts. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, un- swerving in his support of the principles of the party, and in its success he takes a deep interest. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his \\orth and abilitv, ha\e frequently called upon him to serve in local offices and his n! iK^ ^^^^ fj^^L m. JOHH LAFFAH. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 533 duties have ever been discharo-ed with promptness and fidelity. He is a rehable citi- zen and one who commands the respect of all. For three years he has been chairman of the town board, a position wdiich he fills with credit to himself and to the gratifica- tion of his constituents. A portrait of Mr Laffan may be found on another page of this volume, the prominence it occupies being en- tirely due to the leading part he has taken in the upbuilding and de\'el(ipment of the countv. JACOB C. EVANS. Agriculture yields a rewartl for intelli- gence in its conduct perhaps greater than any other calling. Those who bring to its prose- cution a fund of experience, clear foresight and industry find a ready response in liberal returns and the steady accumulation of valu- able property. The subject of this review bears testimony to the trutli nf these as- sertions, as will be obser\'ed in the well- kept estate, of which he is the owner, situ- ated in section i. New Haven township, in Adams county. ]\Ir. E\-ans was burn in Minersville, Schuylkill C(>unt\-, PennsvKania. His par- ents were William and Iktse}- (Morgan) Evans, natives of Wales, where thev grew to maturity and were married. The father was a coal miner, and came to America after the war and engaged in nuning at Miners- ville, Pennsylvania, where he died about l852_. at the age of fifty years. The mnther's death occurred about 184J. when she was about forty years of age. Tliey were mem- bers of the Welsh Baptist church. They were the ])arcnts of four children, two of whom still survive. Their names are as follows : Thomas, of Minersville, Pennsyl- vania: .\bram died at Minersville, Pennsyl- vania; Isaac also died at Minersville; and Jacob C. our sul)ject. '1 he last named two were twins. Soon after the death of his mother young Jacob was bound out to a Mr. James Spen- cer, with the condition that he was to re- ceive two suits of clothing each year, and one year of steady schooling at the age of eighteen vears. His guardian was a miner, but removed to Wisconsin in 1850 and en- gaged in farming in Marquette county, where he died a few years later. Thus the latter clause of the contract was never car- ried out. Nevertheless Mr. Evans made the, best of his opportunities and managed to get a thorough knowledge of the ordinary af- fairs of life, and improved his mind by much reading and observation. In 1854 he purchased his present farm, then in a state of nature, though to obtain it he was com- pelled to purchase the claim of a "sf|uatter" for seventy-five dollars, and to pay the gov- ernment a dollar and a cpiarter per acre. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land, nearly all under a high state of cultivation, and im- proved by a substantial farm house, large barns and commodious outbuildings. He devotes his attention to grain and stock rais- ing, and has succeeded admirably. Ijy means of his own perseverance, industry and intelli- gent management. Mr. Evans enlisted August 23, 1864, in Company K, Fort}'-second Wisconsin \'ol- unteer Infantry, and his company was sta- tioned at Cairo, Illinois, where he did duty in guarding government property antl m garrison. His company was afterwards stationed at Chicago for about three months. SIX weeks of which time our subject was in the Marine Hospital. He received his hon- orable discharge at Madison. Wisconsin, June 20, 1865. December 25, 1855, Mr. Evans was mar- ried to Thurrissa S. Jackson, daughter of George and Margaret (Cha])in) Jackson. 534 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mrs. Evans was horn in Erie county, Penn- sylvania, and came to Wisconsin in 1846. Her father was a carpenter hy trade, and died in New Haven township, Adams coun- ty, Wisconsin, in 1885, aged eighty-four years, and the mother passed away in 1875. They were both natives of the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are tlie par- ents of the following- children: William J., who dietl in February, 1898, at the age of forty-three years. Mary M., who married Mr. I. Mitchell, and is nov/ Mrs. D. Drinkwater, of IMarquette county, Wisconsin. George W., of Marquette coun- ty. Daniel J., of New Haven. Elnora E., who died in 1885, at the age of twenty- two years. Emma L.. who died in infancy. Cora T., now Mrs. Charles Witt. Eva E., now Mrs. George Byers, of New Haven, Wisconsin. Charles I., of Jackson, who married Lottie \'roman. Elizabeth M., now Mrs. Ed. AX'ardiier, of Portage. Frank A., at home. Minnie .\.. now Mrs. Schellkopf, of Marquette county, Wisconsin. Isabelle L., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Evans ha\'e thirty-si.x grandchildren. The family are nearly all members of the First Congrega- tional church of Jackson, which Mr. and Mrs. Evans helped to organize, and of which he is a trustee. He holds membership in the Joseph Miller Post, G. A. R., at Oxford. He has always been an ardent Republican, but has ne\-er sought political preferment. EDWTN O. CLAPP. Edwin O. Clapp, a native of South Had- ley Falls, Massachusetts, born December 20, 1840, has been a resident of Adams county since his seventeentli year, and it is but natural for him tcj be well known in that vicinity, and, in view of the e.xcellent traits of character which have actuated him tlirougiiout his career, it is also natural tliat he should occupy his present high place in the minds of his associates. He resides on the homestead in Adams township, and is sur- rounded by all that goes to make farm life a pleasant one. Mr. Clapp is the son (if Edwin H. and Mary A. (Searlesj Clapp. The family re- sided in Massachusetts many years, and the father was a jjaper maker, and worked in the mills at South Hadley, and was very proficient in his calling. He came to Adams county, Wisconsin, in 1856, and took one hundred and si.xty acres of land on section 29, in Adams township. The land at that time was wild, and for the marketing of their grain they drove to Oxford. The country abounded with wild game, and In- dians were plentiful. The father died in Adams township, in 1895, aged eighty-two years, and was laid to rest in Friendship. 1 he mother still sur\i\'es at the advanced age of eighty-three years, and lives on the old home farm with her son, Edwin, our subject. Four children, three of whom are •living, were born to this worthy couple, as follows : Charles, in Gettysburg, South Da- kota; Mary, now Mrs. Woolsey, of Easton; and Edwin. Edwin O. Clapp came to Adams county with his parents when seventeen years of age, and prior to that had attended school and obtained a good education. He as- sisted in clearing the land, and is now in possession of four hundred acres, with one hundred under cultivation, and engages in general farming and stock raising. Fie en- listed August, 1862, in Company K, Twenty- fifth \Msconsin Infantry, and was under Sherman and accompanied him on his famous march to the sea, thence went to Washington and jjarticipated in the Grand Review. He saw hard service, and was in the hospital at Memphis for about one month. After three vears of ser\-ice he was COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 5B5 discharged at Memiiliis, Tennessee, J»ne 24, 1865. Me did not once shrink from dnty, and was always found with his rei;inient, ready for whatever came. Mr. Ciapp was married February 6, 1866, to Sarah S. PhiUips, daughter of Jo- seph Phihjps, of New York state, who set- tled in \\'isconsin in the early days of the history of this state. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clapp, as fol- lows : Frank, residing in Cranbrook, British Columliia : Lester, in Colfax, Washington; William, w(.)rking with his father on the farm; and ^larv Adelaide, at home with her parents. Mr. Clapp is a member of Eadger Post, No. 122, G. A. R., of Friend- ship. In political faith he is a Republican and takes an active interest in the move- ments of his party, but does not seek pub- lic ofifice. and prefers to advance the inter- ests of his township and county in other ways. He is public-spirited and progressive, and everv man who knows him is his friend ROBERT F. ROBERTS. Robert F. Roberts is an honored and re- spected citizen of Randolph, Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, where he has spent his ca- reer and engaged in active business pur- suits. He is a native of the town of Ran- dolph, Columbia county, and was born July 12, 1858. Our subject was the only son born to F. Iv. and Catherine Roberts, a biography of whom appears elsew here in this volume. His parents emigrated fr(jm Llanddeiniolan, Csernarvonshire, North Wales, in the fall of 1844 and came direct to Wisconsin, where the father entered a claim to land in section iJ, in Randolph township, Columbia coun- ty, and in Novemljer of that year settled on the place. This land is now possessed by our subject. The parents, with the grandmother, Catherine Foulks, two uncles and some other families, settled there at the same time and were the first Welsh penple who settled in the county and this small band was the nu- cleus of the afterward flourishing Welsh settlements Blsen-y-Cae, Lake Emily, Pros- coeron. Rock Hill, Portage Prairie and Welsh Prairie, which was at one time the largest Welsh settlement in America devoted to ag- ricultural pursuits. Our subject had four sisters, all of whom are nati\'es of Colum- bia county, \Visconsin, and are now li\'ing, with the exception of Sarah, Mrs, R. P. Wynne, who died in April, 1899. Our subject was the youngest of the fam- ily of five children. After he attained his majority he assumed charge of his father's estate in Randolph one year, and then pur- chased a farm in the town of Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and remaineil at farming there four years, when he disposed of the land and purchased the old homestead farm from his father. He remained there until 1898 and made a success of the work. In 1896, while grinding feed with a geared windmill, he was caught in the belt of the machine and was so badly injured as to ne- cessitate amputation of one liml). He re- tired from his farm in i8g8, renting the land to his brother-in-law, and mijved to the village of Randolph, and there engaged in the agricultural implement business under the firm name of Roberts & \\'illiams. The firm tlissoh^ed partnership in the fall of 1899, and our subject is at present engaged as traveling salesman for a manufacturing company. Mr. Roberts was married Sei)tember 9, 1880, to Mars'aret Ann Jones, a daughter of Owen W. and Ann (Davis) Jones, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mrs. Roberts' father was the son of John Jones, of Tynygraig, Llanfihengel, near Carwen, Merionetlv shire, North Wales, who was a shoemaker 536 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY by trade. Owen \\'. Jones came to Amer- ica fmm Wales in 1851, and after remain- ing in Oliio until 1853 came to Wisconsin, and settled near Oshkosh, where he fol- lowed farming-. The mother of Mrs. Rob- erts was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Davis, of Oshkosh, who emigrated to Amer- ica from Tregaron, Cardiganshire, South Wales, in 1847, when Mrs. Jones was twelve years of age, and settled in Oshkosh, Wis- consin, where they followed agricultural pursuits. 1 he parents of Mrs. Roberts were married in the fall of 1857. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, who are as follows : Jennette, aged eighteen years, and Catherine Ann. aged thirteen years, both of whom reside at home and attend school. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Welsh Cal- vinistic Methodist church, in wdiich denom- ination he was reared and is a consistent and active member of the same. He is a member of the Knights of Pvthias and E. F. W., and politically is a stanch Republican. CHARLES HENRY STODDARD. Charles Henry Stoddard, an old and honored resident of Prairie du Sac. Sauk county, W^isconsin, was born July 10, 1831. at Colebrook, New Hampshire, and is the son iif Asa Stoddard, who was the son of Lemuel Stoddard, and the grandson of David Stoddard, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire. The Stoddard name has a high place in English annals. According to the records of Heraldry '"William Stoddard, a knight, came to England from Normandy in A. D. 1066, with William the Conquerer, wdio was his cousin." A descendant of his was Richard Stoddard, of Nottingham, Kent, near Elthan, about seven miles from Lon- don bridge, where was located the familv estate of about four hundred acres of land. which was in the possession of the family as early as 1490. It remained in the family hands as late as 1795, when it was divided under the law, as there was no one to suc- ceed Nicholas St(iddard, who was a bach- elor, and died in that year. Thomas Stod- dard lived at Royson ; John at Grindon ; William and John at Royson ; Anthony, Zadean, Anthony. William and Anthony. This last Stoddard emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, about the year 1639, and be- came the ancestor of the .Vmerican Stod- dards. Asa Stoddard, the father of the subject of this article, was tlie fifth child of Lemuel, who was himself the fifth child of his fa- ther. David Stoddard seT\etl in the Revo- lutionary army as an officer of considerable note, and was engaged in the battle of Ben- nington, and the record is that he died on his way home from the army, l)ut no date has been preserved. Asa Stoddard was first married to Lucinda Swears, of Dummerston, V'ermont. about 1822, and one son, Benja- min. was the issue of this marriage. He was born in 1823 and died in 1891. Asa Stoddard was next married to Sarah Roger Littie. of Colebrook, New Hampshire, Jan- uary 20, 1828, and five children were born of this marriage ; William Little, born De- cember 18, 1828; Charles Henry, July 10, 1831; Abbie Elsie, September 18, 1833; Calvin Thomas, August 29, 1835; Emma E., July 19, 1 84 1, — all lieing born in Cole- brook, where the wife and mother died May 21, 1842. The bereaved husband was again married to Philinda Frizzle. March 2, 1843, and three daughters were the fruit of this marriage: Sarah A., born at Canaan, Ver- mont, February 3, 1845; Lucinda N., Lem- ington, August 16, 1847; and Fanny M., Lemington, March 6, 1850. Mr. Stoddard moved from the east to Prairie du Sac in 1884. He located his family u]:)on a farm, and preached occasionally as a supply. He COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 537 died in April, 1884, at the ripe old age of eighty-two, his wife dying the following April at sixly-fonr. They are l.ioth buried in the Prairie dn Sac cemetery, and are ten- derly renienibered l>y a host of friends and relatives. They left eight li\'ing children. His son, Benjamin, was twice married, at North Adams, Massachusetts, and was the sire of a large family. He was a farmer and died in North Adams in 1891. William L., the oldest child by- his second marriage, wedded Luvie Elliott, of Brooktield, Can- ada, and had one son and two daughters. He came to Prairie du Sac in 1805, and spent three years in this vicinity, and then re- moved to Laddonia, Missouri, where he died April 25, 1900, leaving a wife and two chil- dren. His youngest daughter, Lillian, had married some years before, and both she and her husband had died, leaving one son. His son, Fred, is married and lives at St. Louis, and his daughter, Adda, is at home in Laddonia with her mother. Abbie Elsie married Walter Baldwin in 1857 at Coat- cook, Canada. She was the muther of two sons and one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Bald- win came to Prairie dn Sac from Canada in 1870, and settled with the other mem- bers of the family in this vicinity. They left three children : Wright is a railroad en- gineer, is married and lives at Los An- geles, California; Walter is a dentist at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Edith is Mrs. Hewitt, of Oconomowoc. Calvin Thomas li a machinist at Sewardtown, New Hamp- shire. Emma E. is Mrs. Hugh Shull, of Prairie du Sac. She was married in 1869, and has one daughter. In April, 1900, they moved to Pennsylvania, where they now re- side. Lucinda N. is Mrs. Albert Clough, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Fanny M. mar- ried Joshua B. McCoy, now and for the last four years a policeman in the state capitol at Madison. Charles Henry Stoddard, the subject of this article, learned the trade of carpenter and house-builder, under his father's instruc- tions while still a resident of Colebrook, and there he was married in the early part of 1855. That year his wife came west with her people and settled on what was known as the Sauk Prairie, while he remained to close up certain business transactions that needed time for their adjustment. He ap- peared in Prairie du Sac July 10, 1855, and taking land began farming. He also worked at his trade and when his brother, William L., came west, they formed a partnership, and set up a wagon and carriage factory. This they conducted for some three years v.'ith varying fortunes, but finding they had anticipated the growth of the country, they dissolved their business relations, and Will- iam L. left the country, while the subject of this review applied himself with re- doubled vigor to the work of winning, suc- cess out of a hard fortune. He built houses, dug wells, put up windmills, and fairly forced a way into the high road of success. He was left a widower by the death of his wife December 16, 1861. She left one son, Herbert Alvin, who grew up, married and died in Rockford, Illinois, March 23, 1889, leaving a widow and two sons, Richard and Herbert. He was an educated man and a teacher of wide reputation. At the time of his death he was part proprietor of a com- mercial school at Rockford, with a branch at Freeport, and an enrollment of five hun- dred students. Mr. Stoddard was married a second time, July 3, 1 871, Florence O. Higbay, of Prairie du Sac, becoming his bride. She is a daugh- ter of George and Clarinda Higbay. Her maternal grandfather, Jonathan Hatch, is remembered as the first to run a furrow in Sauk county in the spring of 1843. Mrs. Stoddard is the mother of four children, three sons and one daughter : Lawrence Cal- vin was born November 2, 1872, was mar- 538 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ried to Lucy Youno', September ii, 1897, and has one son, Ralph Herbert, born in Septem1)er, 1898; George Bruce, was born May 27, 1875; Roy Charles, July 7, 1881 ; and ]\l}-rtle A., December 16, 1884. They are all at home, and are co-operating with their jjarents in work and planning. Mr. Stoddard has always been a busy man, and though his educational oppor- tunities have not been great, yet he has a knowledge of men and affairs seldom sur- passed. He is a Republican and cast his first vote for General Fremont in 1856. He has generally voted with his party, though he has prohibition ideas. He is a close sympathizer with the doctrines of 'the Bap- tist church, and attends its services c]uite regularly. He has a reputation widespread for character and ability, and for nine months had charge of the exhibit of the Baker Manufacturing Company at the Chi- cago World's Fair. THOMAS REYNOLDS, Dece.^sed. Li the death of the late Thomas Reynolds Adams county lost an influential and re- spected citizen who had resided in Spring- ville township for nearly forty years. He had transformed a wilderness into a pleas- ant home, and at tlie time of his death was well-to-do. Mr. Reynolds was born in West Felton, Shropshire, England, August 8, 1816. He received a fair education and about 1853 came to the United States and lived six years in Wiljoughby, Ohio. From thence he came to Wisconsin, settling in Springville township, Adams county, where he spent the remainder of his life, and resided thirty years on one farm. Mr. Reynolds was married in England: his first wife, who died there, left one daugh- ter, Libbie, now Mrs. Theodore Cummings, of Point Bluff, Adams county. Mr. Rey- nolds married Bessie Aleredith, a native of Shropshire, England, in 1846. j\lr. and Mrs. Reynolds were the parents of three children who reached maturity, as follows: William Henry died October 14, 1898, aged forty- three years ; George E. ; and Andrew T. Mr. Reynolds died in Springville town- ship, Adams county, Wisconsin, January 12, 1896, and his wife survived him but one year, passing away February 27, 1897, aged seventy-nine years. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Reynolds took an acti\e part in the affairs of that denomination. He was a Republican in political sentiment, but was of a retiring disposition and did not seek public favor. He was a gentleman of sterling (jualities, and left a large circle of friends to mourn for him. George E. Reynolds was born in Wil- loughby, Ohio, February i, 1858. He came to Wisconsin with his parents when he was but one year of age, and has been a resi- dent of Adams county since that time. He gained a liberal education, attending the dis- trict school, and at the county institute, and began teaching at the age of eighteen years, and for several years followed that voca- tion. He was elected county superintend- ent in 1890, on the Republican ticket. He organized the first summer school for teach- ers in Adams county, and continued the same annually, thereby adding greatly to the educational standard of Adams county. George W. Reynolds was married No- vember II, 1885, to May Bacon, daughter of David N. and Caroline Bacon, of Point Bluff, Wisconsin, notice of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Rey- nolds is a native of White Creek, Adams county, Wisconsin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, as follows : Bessie and Glenn David. Mr. Reynolds has COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 589 filled the office of auditor, clerk and chair- man of Springville township, and has gained the entire confidence of the people of his community. He is a gentleman of re- fined and marked literary ahility, and is a contributor to numerous publications. Andrew T. Reynolds was l)orn in Spring- ville township, Adams county, Wisconsin, November 4, 1859. Since reaching his ma- jority he has followed the calling of an agri- culturist, and with much success. In 1884, in company with his brother, George E., he purchased part of his present farm on section 27, in Springville township, and the brothers now own three hundred and twenty acres, all of which was wild land when they purchased it. One hundred and ten acres have been cleared for cultivation, and on the estate they have erected substantial and convenient buildings, and added other im- provements, and aside from general farm- ing are interested in the raising of horses, and have some choice" specimens. Both are well-known members of the community of Spring"ville township, where they have passed their lives, and enjoy the highest re- spect of their associates. They are intelli- gent and progressive and well merit suc- cess. FRITZ WITT. Fritz Witt, a prominent miller of Adams county, residing in Easton, was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, January 18, 1844. His parents, Christian and Do- rette (Muller) Witt, were natives of the same country, and the father was a miller by trade, and conducted the business until his death, about the year 1863. The mother died about 1852, and both rest at Mecklen- burg. Of a family of six children, our sub- ject was the second in order of birth. Mr. Witt attended school until fifteen years of age, and then learned the miller's trade and worked at it in his native land ur.til nineteen years of age, when, in the spring of 1866, he came to America, and lo- cated at Lewiston, Columbia county, Wis- consin. He worked with different farmers until he had acquired a fair knowledge of the English language, and then went to Portage and worked in the mill at that place for about two years and went from thence to Delton and worked in the two mills of that town. He next moved to Arkdale, Adams county, in 1873, where he remained until 1880. He purchased the mill prop- erty in ^^'hite Creek, in 1882, and has op- erated it continuously since. The power is good and they grind wheat and all kinds of grain. Mr. Witt and sons own the mill at Easton, where they grind buckwheat and feed. Their business is extensive and they are well known as men whose thorough knowledge of their calling entitle them to the best patronage. Mr. W^itt was married April 4, 1868, to Cathrina Paulson, of Frorop, Holstein. Six children have been burn to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Witt, as follows : Christian, residing at Wildrose, W^aushara county, W^isconsin ; Frank, in charge of the mill at Easton, Wisconsin ; Charles, resid- ing in Plainfield, Waushara county; Ernest and Irwin, twins, residing at home; and Harry, at home. Mr. Witt is a member of the Lutheran church. In political sentiment he is a Dem- ocrat, but takes no active part in political movements, and has not aspired to public office. He pursues the even tenor of his way, attending to his business, and making friends wherever he is known. He is one of the sons of the German empire whose business ability and thrift are noticeable in whatever they undertake, and in his adopt- ed land he has acquired a j^lace among the foremost of his fellow men, through the 540 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. exercise of tliose dominant traits of cliarac- ter, which are ever bound to meet with gratifyino- results. He is progressive and practical and in every way suited to his call- ing, has made it his lifelong study, and is competent to jjursue that line. JOHN C. HENRY. John C. Henry, a well-known under- taker of Kilhourn City, Wisconsin, has re- sided here for over thirty-three years, and his name is inseparably connected with its busi- ness interests. His thoro.ughly American spirit and great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading character- istics in business affairs is his sense of order and complete system and the habit of giv- ing careful attention to details, w-ithout which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. Mr. Henry was born in Canada in No- vember, 1842, and is a son of John and Esther Henry, natives of Scotland. H'is parents emigrated to America in 1843, land- ing in New York City, and settled in Can- ada, where both died. Our subject ob- tained his literary education in the common schools of Canada, and remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself, working for the first few years on a farm for his uncle. He con- tinued to follow farming for several years, and then took up the carpenter and joiner and cabinetmaker's trades. In 1866 he became a resident of Kilbourn City, Wiscon- sin, and there and in other parts of the state worked as a cabinetmaker and carpenter. In 1 881 he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business in Kilbourn City, and is to-day one of the most proficient in the art of undertaking in the northwest. He possesses good business cjualifications, is progressive and energetic, and has met with well-merited success. Besides his business, he owns a comfortalile residence in Kilbourn City, and also one of the finest homes at Fern Dell summer resort, in Del ton town- ship, Sauk county, Wisconsin. In 1890, Mr. Henry was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma Lang. The lady was born in Germany, in 1875, and was reared and educated in that country and Wiscon- sin. They now have two children : Queen Emma, born August 2~, 1893; and King Charles, born January 12, 1895. They are the pride and joy of the home. Fraternally Mr. Henry is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar, and has been treasurer of the chapter for many years. His political support is always given the men antl measures of the Republican party, and as alderman of the city he has rendered his fellow citizens efificient and faithful serv- ice, giving his support to every measure which he believed calculated to prove of pub- lic benefit. As a business man and citizen he is therefore highly esteemed. EDMOND MAXFIELD. Edmond Maxfield, a retired farmer of Otsego, Columbia county, and a man who has conducted himself with remarkable credit throughout the varied experiences of a long and active life, was born June 6, 1843, in Somerset, Cayuga county. New 'S'ork, and is a son of Joseph and Phebe (Haight) Maxfield, both natives of the state of Massachusetts. The family came to Wis- consin in 1846, and purchased a farm in the town of Hampden, Columbia county. Mrs. Maxfield died in 1852, and her be- reaved husband sold his farm, disposed of h'is household effects, and went back to the EDMOND MAXFIELD. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 543 east. After tliree years in that part of the Union he again married, Mrs. Sarah Holt becoming his wife, and once more he set his face toward the west. He, on his arrival here, bought a farm in Hampden, which he held for two or three years, and then ex- changed it for a farm in the town of Leeds. Ihis he made his home until the death of his wife in 1867. He died in January, 1886, when over eighty-three. He was the father of nine children, among whom were: David, who "trailed" it to California in 1852, and died there twelve years later; Benjamin, who died in youth; Joseph, who grew to young manhood, enlisted as a Union soldier, and was killed on the second day of the battle of the Wilderness; Edmond, the subject of this article; and Mary, who died in infancy. The ancestry of our subject is of the very best character. Both families were well established and uniformly well to do. The Haight family has an extensive genealogy gathered in an attempt t(.) claim a large Eng- lish fortune. When Edmond Alaxfield was nine years old, his mother having died in the meantime, he went to live with his grandfather, Isaac Haight, and spent two years with his grand- parents, then he changed to an uncle, Jona- than Haight. \\'hen his father remarried he went to live with him, but he had formed at- tachments at his home, and he went back to live with his uncle mentioned above, and spent his boyhood and youth in his hospitable home, until he was eighteen years old. He worked out for a time after that in Mar- shall, Dane county, Wisconsin. Then he rented the Loveless farm, and gave this up to take charge of his brother's place, that relative having gone to the front as a Union soldier. Edmond Maxfield enlisted himself a^ a member of Company M, First Wiscon- sin Heavy Artillery, August 2y, 1864. This was about three months after this brother's death, as noted above. September 7, 1864, the reo:ment was sent to Madison, and included in the ranks some of the best blood and sinew of the country. Captain Ford says of part of this regiment: 'T took out one hundred and fifty-three of the finest fellows I ever saw." 1 hat regiment was sent to Washington, and then to Alexandria, and finally assigned to guard duty in the ad- jacent forts. On one occasion they received orders to go into an engagement, but, as they thought unluckily, the order was coun- termandeil. Howe\er, they did their whole duty, and what more could they do? Mr. Maxfield was sick wdiile at the front, and was once in the hospital three weeks. After the conclusion of the war the regiment came back to Milwaukee, and was mustered out and the military experiences of the young man came to an end. He immediately re- sumed farm life the moment he was free from the obligations of a soldier, and began the cultivation of a little farm of sixty acres, which he ownetl in the town of Otsego, and this has been his home for thirty-five years. From time to time he has added to the orig- inal acreage, until he now owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty-seven acres, situated on sections 23, 24 and 25. In 1897 he bought a residence in the village of Ot- sego, which he now occupies. He is estab- lished in a cozy and convenient home, and is entitled to take life easy from this time on- ward. In politics he has always been a Re- publican and the respect which his fellow townsmen entertain for him has been made evident by his repeated election to important local positions. He has been on the town and school boards many times, and his opin- ions command the utmost respect of his .fel- low citizens. He belongs to Harvey M. Brown Post, of the Grand .-\.rmy of the Re- public, No. 146, and is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a Universalist, while his family are Baptists. He is one of Otsego's represent- ative men. 544 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Alaxfiekl was married August 29, 1864. ti) ]\Iiss Salome L. King, daugliter of Johnson and Adelia (Brayton) King. The family came from New York to CoUimljia county in 1845. Tliey remo\-ed to Dunn county in 1870, where they died, the fa- tlier in 1894 and the mother in 1890. They liad four children : Helen, Mary, Salome and Ida, and an adopted son, W'illje. To Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield has been born one daugh- ter, Cora L. Mr. !Maxtield has all his life been occu- pied with that oldest of businesses, the tillage of the soil, and has brought to his aid in the successful cultivation of the earth un- usual shrewdness and acumen. His success in life is entirely the result of his own ef- forts and, as a thorough-going, energetic, capable agriculturist, he is looked up to by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who will be pleased to see his portrait as one of the illustrations of this work, appear- ing on another page. CHARLES \V. DELANY. Charles W. Delany, who was for so many years prominently identified with the hotel life of Poynette, Columbia county, has, since severing his connection with the Amer- ican Hotel, taken up his residence in that village. For sixteen years this genial host of the popular hostelry presided over its destinies and brought the business to a high state of prosperity, and achieved a great success. Enterprising and with much abilitv, Mr. Delany has demonstrated his fitness for tlie business and is now enjoying the fruits of his victory over fortune, and in the latter years of his life is taking his ease upon the results of his labors. Charles \V. Delany was born in Che- mung county. New York, February 7, 1844, and was the son of H. M. and Hannah (Bennett) Delany. His father was born in New Jersey in 181 2, and his mother in New York state, March 15, 1823. The father was a farmer and horse farrier by occupa- tion and uKjN'ed his fanfily to \Visconsin in 1853, and purchased a farm near Poynette, where his death occurred May 12, 1892, and where the mother still resides. The five sur- viving children of a family of eight chil- dren are as f(jllows : Adeline Cortelyou, now in California; Sarah E. Cortelyou, now in New York City; John F., in Bitter Root Valley, Montana; Charles W., our subject; Miles B., now residing on the homestead farm near Pox'nette. The subject of this review recei\-ed most of his education in Wisconsin and assisted his father on the farm until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in his country's cause September i, 1861, at Port- age, Wisconsin, at the age of seventeen years. He became a member of Company G, Second Wisconsin Infantry, and pro- ceeded at once to Washington, and from thence to Arlington Heights, where he landed September 21, 1861. He was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac and served three years and fourteen days, and was discharged in front of Petersburg, as a corporal, at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He participated in most of the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded in the right leg at the bat- tle of Antietam. After his discharge from the service he returned to his home in Wis- consin, and employed his time in farming. In 1874 he purchased a farm of three hun- dred and fifty acres, three and one-half miles northwest of Poynette, and two hun- dred acres is now tillable. The farm is well equipped with modern improvements and conveniences, and he is still in possession of tliis estate. He purchased the American Hotel in Poynette in 1883, and improved the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 545 building and continued the hotel business for sixteen years. Mr. Delany was married September 27, 1865, to Anna Campbell, a native of Scotland, who was born in 1845, ^"d came to America in 1859. j\Ir. and Airs. De- kny are the parents of five children, as follows : Hannah May Russell, now in Madi- son, Wisconsin; Nettie S.; Grace; John C. ; and Hazel Anna. The children are intelli- gent and are possessed with unusual musical talent, and are well known as vocalists. Mr. Delany held membership in the G. A. R. until the post at Poynette was discon- tinued. He has held the office of village trustee two years, and is a worthy citizen and influential man. FRANCIS MAEGERLEIN. Much of the civilization of the world has come from the Teutonic race. Continually mo\-ing westward, they have taken with them the enterprise and advancement of their eastern homes, and have become valued and useful citizens of various localities. In this country, especially, they have demonstrated their power to adapt themselves to new cir- cumstances, retaining at the same time their l^rogressiveness and energy, and have be- come loyal and devoted citizens. Mr. Maegerlein, one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Sauk City, Wis- consin, is a worthy representative of this class. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germanv, June 14, 1841, and is a son of John George Maegerlein, who was a butcher by trade, as was also his father, grandfather and the an- cestors of our subject as far back as known. He was in a measure brought up to the same business. In 1850, when nine years of age, he sailed with the family from Ham- burg on a brig which was eight long weeks in crossing the Atlantic. Landing in New York they proceeded by steamboat to Al- bany, and thence by canal and the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, where they arrived two weeks later. After five years spent in that city they came to Sauk county March 21, 1855, and the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Honey Creek township. This locality was then all wild and unimproved, few settlements had been made and there were no roads, but in going from place to place the pioneers followed the cattle paths and Indian trails. There were only two teams of horses in the township, cattle being used for all purposes, and there were still a good many Indians here. Tlie father, with the assistance of his family, commenced to clear and improve his farm, and to its cultivation he devoted his energies until his death. His wife survived him for for some time, tlying in Sauk City about six years ago. To this worthy couple were born three children, of whom our subject is the oldest. He attended the public schools of his native land from the age of six years until coming to America, and was a student for a short time in the schools of this country, but the greater part of his educaton has not been gained from text books but has come through observation and contact with the business world. He has a good practical knowledge of men and affairs and is well qualified to fill almost any position in business or public life. After the death of his father he took charge of the home farm, which he now owns, successfully operating the same until coming to Sauk Citv in 1882. The people of Honey Creek tinvnshi[) Ijv this time were numerous, the land was developed and adorned with many nice homes, and they were loth to have him leave the township, as he proved a valuable member of the com- 546 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. iiiunity; but having a son and an adopted daughter to educate, he decided to locate in Sauk City, wliere tlie educational advantages were better. On coming here lie embarked in business as a dealer in farm machinery and grain, and being a progressive, wide- awake business man, he met with success from the very start, selling over fifteen thou- sand dollars worth of machinery in two years. At present he has an elevator near the depot and he and his son are engaged in the grain business under the firm name of Francis Maegerlein & Son. He is also one of the board of five directors and a stockhcjlder in the canning factory; was in- strumental in organizing the Sauk City I'ress Publishing Company, of wliich he was the first president, and succeeded in placing the paper, "Wisconsin Workman," on a good paying basis and secured the present efficient editor, Charles F. Ninman. In Honey Creek township, Mr. Maeger- lein married Miss Jane Quirk, a native of L.ower Canada, and they have one child, John, who is engaged in business with his father. As a Democrat Mr. Maegerlein has taken an active and prominent part in local politics, and although Honey Creek town- ship was strongly Republican, his popularity and ability were such that he was chosen to fill many positions of trust and responsi- bility. For five consecutive years he repre- sented that township on the board of super- visors, and has been elected to the same bodv since coming to Sauk City. He has also been chairman of the board for Prairie du Sac township; was assessor one year; post- master of Sauk City for four years and three months; president of the village two terms; and treasurer three years. His public and private life are alike above reproach; he has most efficiently discharged all duties that have devolved upon him, and has the con- fidence and respect of the entire community. In religious faith he is a Catholic. MILES BENXITT DELANY, V. S. Miles Bennitt Delany, V. S., a well- known practitioner of his profession, repre- sents a prominent pioneer family of Colum- bia county. He was born in Big Flats, Chemung county. New York, May i, 1852, and was a son of Henry M. and Hannah (Bennitt) Delany. The father of our suliject was a native of Morris county. New Jersey. He studied - the veterinary science from his father and at tlie age of twenty-five years went to New York, where he practiced the profession un- til 1853, when he went to Wisconsin. He resided on a farm in Lowville township un- til about 1890, and then removed to Poy- nette. He died there May 12, 1892, aged about eighty years. He met with remarka- ble success in the treating of horses and was widely known. He was active and vigorous until the day of his death. The grandfather of our subject, John Delany, was of Penn- sylvania Dutch descent, and was a veteran of the war of 181 2 and was in the expedition to Quebec. He lived and died on a farm in New Jersey. Our subject's mother was born in Big Flats, New York, March 15, 1823, and is now living on the homestead farm in Columbia county. She was a daughter of John and Sarah (Rockwell) Bennitt. Her father was born in Orange county. New York, and was of Pennsyhania Dutch de- scent. He became an extensive farmer in Chemung county and left a large estate. He died December 8, 1837, aged about fifty years. The maternal grandmother of er, iS4^v Mr. Xolile was united in marriage with ]\liss Angeline E. Cnni- wall, who was hurn in Rochester, Xew York. December 17, 181 8, a daughter of Richard Cornwall, a soldier of the war of 1812. Her grandfather was one nf the heroes of the Revohuinnary war. 'r<.> <>ur subject and his wife were horn three chil- dren, namely: .Andrew li.. burn March 21. 1846, has fir the past tw,;nty-hve years been engaged in the banking business in Des Moines, Iowa. Frank H., born October 17. 1848, is engaged in the real estate business in Seattle, W'ashingtcm. Cornelia M., born October 13, 1844, was married in Kilbourn, July 20, 1870. to Capt. Oliver H. Sorrenson, and resided in Portage, where she died De- cember 17, 1875, ^vhile her husband died in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Alarch 7. 1882. On coming- to Killiourn Mr. Xoble found the village only partially sur\'eyed. He bought lots 14, 15 and 1C1, block 46. on Su- perior street, but has since sold lot 16 and a part of Int 15. He has made very sul)- stantial impro\'ements njjon his property and has a fine residence surrounded In- beautiful grounds. He is a thorough busi- ness man, upright and hunnrable in all his dealings, and through his own well-direct- ed efforts has gained a ciim])etence. He is a member of the Masonic fraternitv and the Indei>endent Order of Odd Fellows, and has always been a stanch Re|)ublican. He takes an active and commendable- interest- in public affairs, and has held the office of town treasurer and assessor, in which capacity he has served to the entire sat- isfaction of his constituents. He has been justice of the peace for thirty years, and po- lice justice in Kilbourn City for several terms. His official duties ha\e been always most promptly and faithfully discharged. HOLVER ROBERTS, Dece.vsed. Holver Roberts, deceased, was a well- kncnvn and highly respected citizen of the t(,'wn of Otsego, Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, where he lived for nearly fifty years, n-iaking a deep impression on the community njDt less l:)v his industry and honor than by his kindly spirit and upright character. He w as a useful man, an honest and kind-heart- ed man, and left a vacancy in the neighbor- hood difificult to fill. He was born in Tele- markeii. Norway. Januar\- 28, 1844. and d.ied in \\'est Baden, Indiana, May 7, i8(;o. lie was a son of Robert Thompson and Esther ( Holverson ) Ri)l)erts. and was brought by them to this country about 1850, and set- tled upon a farm in the town of Otsego. There the hnsljand and father died January 2, 1890, at the age of se\-enty. His widow still survives him, and is now seventy-seven years of age. Holver Roberts left home when a young man and spent some time in the Michigan pineries and elsewhere. He returned aliout the year 1872, and for a tinie carried on the paternal homestead, and then liougbt a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, in the same township, which was his home as long as he lived. He made many improvements on the place, putting up substantial and elegant Imildings. and con\-erting- it into one of the uiodel farms of Columbia county. He was a Republican and from time to time filled many of the local oftices, particularly that of town clerk. He was married to Carrie Esterl)av Januarv 5, 187^1. She was a daugh- ter of Knute Severson and Lieve (Knutson) Esterbay, Januarv 5, 1876. She was a daugh- Bergen, Norwav. They came to the United States in 1857, and made their home in Hampden, Columbia county. He died in the town of Otsego in 1865 when fifty-six A-ears old. She is still li\ing in l^)rown county, South Dakota, and is o\er se\-entv-six. 550 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mrs. Roljerts liad nine cliildren : Henry Cliarles, a farmer, who carries 1795- Her parents were Elisha and Hannah (Gore) Durkee. She had fi\-e uncles killed in the Wyoming massacre during the Revolution. Soon after his marriage Cyrus Allen Icjcated in the town of Portage, Liv- ingston county. New York, where he en- gaged in farming until his death. He was killed by being thrown from a buggy in a runaway in August. 1857. His children were Nelson E., our subject: Edwin C, born June 9, 1824; William D., born June 5, 1827: and Emma, born October 25, 1831. Our sul>ject was educated in the Nunda Academy, Livingston county, New York, and at the age of nineteen commenced teach- ing school, a profession which he success- fully followed for three successive winters. In 1S42 he came to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, which then consisted of but three houses, and, together with A. Knfight, made the first improvements in Trenton township, Dodge county, where he made his home for fifty-fi\e years. After securing his land, however, he returned to New York, by way of the Great Lakes, and on the vo3rage en- countered some severe storms. Li the spring of 1843 he located permanently upon his land and at once began its improveiuent. While breaking his land Messrs. Allen and Knight Jived together upon the for- mer's claim, and experienced many of the hardships and difificulties incident to pioneer life. He can relate many interesting inci- dents of those early days when the country was wild and sparsely settled. One of these gives a fair idea of the privations and incon- veniences of frontier life. Their breaking team, consisting of ten oxen, strayed away upon the prairie and they were forced to go arid find them. After much diftrculty and a long search of three days in different direc- tions, they were at length found and driven home, but on entering their shack they found the fire out, and as this was before the in- A'ention of matches. Mr. Nelson had to go to the nearest neighljor, which was five miles, to secure a brand of fire, in the meantime having nothing to eat. With his lirand of fire he set out upon the homeward journey, and when he had nearly reached his destina- tion he stumbled and fell, the brand flying many rods away in the wet grass. He scrambled after it and secured it before it was entirely extinguished, and by waving it rapidly in the air succeeded in saving the sparks. At another time he was intrusted with c|uite a large sum of money belonging to the settlers to be taken to the land office in Green Bay. He made the journey on foot through the forests, wading or swimming tlie streams, and covered the distance between COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 555 that place and Bea\'er Dam and return in tour days and a half. On the 1 8th of ^larch, 1846, Nelson E. Allen married Sarah C. Botsford, and they became the parents of the following chil- dren: Ezra, born August 22, 1848, died January 26, 1871 ; Mary Effie, born De- cember 16, 1853, died in infancy; Mary Effre (2nd), born June 19, 1856, died at the age of two and a half years; Etta Amanda, born Feliruary 11, i860, was married Octo- ber 12, 1 88 1, to Franklin Coon, and died August 19. 1882; and Eddie G., born May 2, 1866, is in the elevator business at Bil- lings, Oklahoma. ;\Ir. Allen was again mar- ried July 25, 1877, his second union being with Eliza Sawyer, who was born in New Hampshire, in January, 1841. In 1 808 Mr. Allen came into possession of seven hundred and sixty acres of land in Springville township, Adams county, wdiere hehas since made improvements, and now has four hundred acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He makes a specialty of Galloway cattle and Poland China hogs, and has some registered stock upon his place. He is an enthusiast on the subject of clover and has taken quite an act- ive and prominent part in farmers' insti- tutes. During the Civil war Mr. Allen enlist- ed in Cumpanj' H, Twenty-ninth Wiscon- sin \'olunteer Infantry, but was afterward tranferred to the Fifth Regiment. He par- ticipated in several skirmishes and the l)at- lle of Yazoo Bayou and was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant March 18, 1865. Politically he was an Abolitionist and later a Republican until the close of President Grant's first term, and since then has affil- iated with the Populist party. At one time he was nominated for governor by that party, Init declined the honor, and subsequently was twice a candidate for lieutenant-gov- ernor. During those campaigns he made a strong canvass and delivered manv speeches throughout the state. He is a man of prominence, is widely and favorabl)' known as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and is highly esteemed anfl greatly respected in the community where he re- sides. CHARLES S. TOMPKINS. Charles S. Tompkins, a retired farmer residing in the village of Otsego, Columbia count}', was born in Starkey, Yates county, New York, October 28, 1823, and is a son of Dan and Hannah (Demming) Tomp- kins. He comes of good old Revolutinnary stock, his grandfather having been a soldier in that war, for which he drew a pension long before his death. Governor Tompkins, of New York, was of a branch of this fam- ily. The Tompkins family came to AN'iscim- sin in 1854 and bought a farm of two hun- dred acres in the town of Otsego, on whicli they lived until their death. They bad a family of ten children, four of whom are dead : Edwin D., of VVatkins, New York, is a very prominent Mason ; Charles S. is the theme of this historical sketch ; George died in California in 1853, having gone there by way of the "Cape;" Hiram A. died in youth ; James resides in Brooklyn ; Hannah Maria is ^Irs. Joseph Cody, of Madison, Nebraska ; Mary Jane is Mrs. Thomas Jones, of Co- lumbus, \\'isconsin ; Catherine married Will- iam AVhitfield, and is now dead ; William Henry Harrison died in 1863, and Lucretia and Samuel live in ^ladison, Nebraska, with their sister. The subject of this sketch came west in 1852, and settled in the town of Otsego, just east of the village of the same name. In 1863 he sold his farm. June 7, 1847, 'le was married to Miss Susan Rouse, daughter of William and Polly (Shaw) Rouse, of WVf^LV-':: J/ 0-~ 5i"cHPitiFiil" I>:ccie?> yX- - - - rfse - . --- H« aas beer asseJ-> ".'is ir " ^- ^ ^ciL eta: J- - -ire Mt- as: MsssKtsinr locg^ SGCsei|Bei£.T sees- r^; i^ ^ , . - - ^ ^ : lias 2l*a.TrS >:-- Srrssr JOSiX HEXSY WHITE- irmt ic? visesETse rcsmssss •mm ■i sgat sal : : is: SBi IT Seass Jfr- \\"Ms -.K saiiDe oeer i - :>-~ES. »eiirii. - trrsr; .cr e nsariei. jes aiS:- aer ~- r "^li rc'Ci;' r..- iinitg Kr ■'tnTO^~ sat. COMF/iNIJlUM 01- BIOGK/ir'HY. 557 have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White as follows: Anna Alinira, born I-'ebriiary 5, 1869, rlied in a burning building February 12, 1899; Charles J.; Abbic I.., now Mrs. A. Besaw, of Waushara county ; Lorenzo A.; J'" rank E., a teacher in Sauk county; and Nellie M. Mr. White is a member of the Advent Christian church of Lavalle, and contributed of his means for the erection of llie church building. He is a member of the A. A. Matthews I^ost, No. 44, fi. A. I<.,-at Lavalle, and is adjutant in the local jx>st. Jle has fillerl various ofifices of trust and wa? village clerk eight years. He has been a life- long Kepublican in political faith and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln in i860. I here is perhaps no man in the village who takes a more active interest in its welfare and has done more to promote its enterprises than Mr. White. He is well known through- out the county and is a rhan whose opinions are sought and advice heeded. EDWARD SHANAHAN. Edward Shanahan, a worthy represent- ative of the agricultural interests of Adams county, Wisconsin, now owns and operates a fine farm in Dell Prairie towr.ship, and is successfully engaged in his chosen occupa- tion. He was Ixyrn in EdwardsVjurg, Cass county, Michigan, March 25, 1852, and is the ninth son of Hon. E^lward Shanahan. He ac(|uired his literary education in the common, graded and high schools near his boyhood home, and until he attained his ma- jority he worked on his father's large farm, where he seaired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. At the age of twen- t\'-one he began farming on his own ac- count upon one of his father's farms, and throughout his active business life has suc- cessfully followed that vocation. He raises principally corn and hogs, making a s\yt- cialty of the f'oland China breed. ()n the 1st of April, 1884, he removed to Dell I'rairie township, Adams county, where he now owns one hundred and fifty-six acres of land on .section 31, one hundrerl of which are under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Ht has a 1>eautiful home, sur- rounded by lovely grounds, and everything about the jilace testifies to the skill and en- terprise of the owner. On the 15th of September, 1880, Mr. Shanahan werlfled Miss Mary H, Hanley, who was also lx>rn in fvlwardsburg, Michi- gan, October 4, 1858, and educated in the common .schools of that state. Her parents, Patrick and Mary Hanley, were natives of county Limerick, Ireland, and emigrat&l to A.merica at an early day, the mother l>eing only a child when she crossed the Atlantic. They located in Michigan. The f crop of five hundred acres of peas, and large quantities of corn, tomatoes and other vege- tables. Mr. Hutchinson also assisted in in- corporating the Randolph Wagon Works, established with a capital of twenty thou- sand dollars, and until 1900 he was inter- ested in tliis company. For some years he was a member of the Wisconsin Wool Grow- ers" Association, and took a leading part in the organization of the Columbia County Wool Growers' Association, of which he was president. The object of this organi- zation was to secure protective legislation for the industry, wdiich was threatened with destruction in the state. In 1888 Mr. Hutch- inson was a delegate to the National \\'ool Growers' Association at Washington, D. C, and was appointed a member of a coinmit- tee of seven to prepare a wool schedule and present the same to the ways and means committee of the house of representatives. The committee spent a week in preparing the schedule, which became a part of the famous McKinley tarift' bill. Mr. Hutchinson was married October 3, 1852, to Laura M. Parish, a datighter of Nathan D. and Abigail (Bass) Parish. Mrs. Hutchinson was born in Braintree, Ver- mont, and her parents passed their lives in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have been the parents of four children, who are as follows: Charles P., who died at the age of three years; Mary L., now Airs. George 676 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Morris, of Randolnh ; Carl E., secretary of tlie Randolpli Canning Company ; and James W'., residing on the home farm. Mr. arid Mrs. Hutchinson have one grandchild. Our subject has never sought public office, but is identified with the Republican partv, of wliich he is an earnest worker for party principles, and of which he has been a mem- ber since its organization. He is a man of excellent character, progressive and intelli- gent, and enjoys the highest esteem of all \vith whom he has to do. MERTON EUGENE SEYMOUR. Merton Eugene Seymour, a practical and progressive farmer of Dellona township, Sauk county, who is meeting with marked success in the prosecution of his chosen call- ing, is proud to claim Wisconsin as his native state, hisbirth having occurred upon his pres- ent farm, December i, 1858. He is a son of Hon. S. J. Seymour, of whom extended notice appears elsewhere in this volume. After leaving the district school, our subject attended the Reedsburg high school, from which he was graduated in 1881, and a few years later he took a short agricultural ccurse at the Wisconsin University, being a member of the first class to pursue that course. He afterward spent some months in California, and five years previous was for a time with his IjrotlTer, Walter F. Seymour, at the Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York. In 1887 ^I''- Seymour tdok charge of the homestead farm, which he purchased five years later and which he has since suc- cessfully conducted. By his education and previous training he was well fitted for the occupation he has chosen as a life work and prosperity has crowned his well-directed ef- forts. He devotes the greater part of his time and attention to the live stock and dairy business and makes a specialty of the rais- ing of high-grade short horn cattle and Po- land China hogs. His farm consists of two hundred and five acres with first-class im- provements and conveniences, and as a pro- gressive and enterprising agriculturist he takes an active interest in promoting im- provements in the apricultural methods of the county, and has become a prominent and influential member of the farmers' institutes and similar societies. He is also interested in horticulture and has often been an ex- hibitor at the Sauk county fair, where he has won many premiums. On the 23d of March, 1898, Mr. Sey- mour married Miss Blanche Jeffries, of Baraboo, who was born in Kilbnurn City, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of William and Nellie Jeffries. For a number of years he has been an elder in the Presbyterian cliuTcli of Reedsburg, of which he is an act- i\'e and prominent member. In politics he lias been a lifelong Republican, has fre- quently served as delegate to the county conventions, and took the census of Dellona in 1890. RUEL HOTCHKISS, Dece.^sed. Ruel Hotchkiss, deceased, was one of the active, prominent and enterprising citi- zens of Richfield township, Adams county, W^isconsin. He formerly was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 3, where he owned a well-improved farm. He was born in Hampton, Washington county. New York, Juh' lo, 1831, a son of Chester and Betsy (Gillett) Hotchkiss, who spent their entire li\'es as farming people v., that town. His paternal grandfather, Rufus Hotchkiss. was a native of Connecti- cut and an early settler of Hampton, New ^'ork, where he located soon after the Re\'o- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 577 lutionary war. and where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of liis hfe. By occuiiatiun lie. too. was a farmer. In his native state Ruel Hotchkiss grew tc manhood, and before coming west he was married, in Wells. \'ermont. January 0, 1 86 1, to Miss Luiiie A. Searles, a daugh- ter of Alonzo and Elizabeth ( \'an Bogart) Searles, nati\es of White Mall and Gran- viUe, New York, respectively. Her father, who was a farmer, enlisted at Gran\-ille, in September, 1862. in Company A. One Hun- dred and Sixty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, and died of pneumonia at the hos- pital in Wilmington, North Carolina, May 10, 1865. His parents were William and Polly (Billings) Searles, farming people of White Hall, New York. His mother was a native of Connecticut. To our subject and his wife were born two sons: (ij Ernest A., living upon the home farm, was mar- ried, September 3, 1899, l^'* Lena Mahlke, a daughter of Rofer and Tilda (Bredchkey) Mahlke, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1869 and settled in Portage, Wisconsin. They were also farm- ing people. (2) Mortimer married May Martin and is living in Leola, Adams coun- ty, Wisconsin. Mrs. Hotchkiss has four grandchildren. On coming to Wisconsin, in 1865, Mr. Hotchkiss located in Sharon, Walworth county, and after spending a shiirt time there he moved to Richfonl, Waushara coun- ty. It was in 1869 that he came to Adams county and purchased eighty acres of land, for which he Daid two hundred dollars. Thirty acres had previously been broken and a log house and stable constituted the only improvements upon the place, but it is now one of the most desirable farms of its size in the locality. During the Civil war Mr. Hotchkiss laid aside all personal interests to enter the service of his country, enlist- ing at Canton. New York, December 21, 1863, as a private in Company L, Seventh New York Heavy Artillery. He was dis- charged for disability at Fort Reno, near Washington, D. C, March 5. 1864. He was a Democrat in politics and ser\-ed as treasurer of his school district for several years. ^Ir. Hotchkiss died October 5, 1880, and his wife makes her home on the home- stead with her son, Ernest A. BERDUX MILLER. Berdux Miller, the efficient and popular overseer of the Columbia county poor house and insane asylum, located at W^yocena, is a gentleman of estimable character and en- joys the confidence of those with whom he has tiT do. Mrs. Miller is matron of these institutions, and to her efforts as well as those of our suljject is due the high standing of the institutions among the charitable in- stitutions of the state. Our subject was born in Nassau, Rensse- laer county, New York, March 3, 1845, and was a son of John I, and Martha (Sher- man) Miller, both of whom were natives of New York. His father was of Pennsyl- vania Dutch tlescent and was of Holland lineage. He was a wagonmaker and later worked in a piano factory in New York City. He settled in Columbia county, Wis- consin, in 1855. and fullowed farming and also operated a wagon shop on his farm in West Point township. He was born March 24, 1 819, in Columbia county, New York, and died January 20, 1886. The mother of our subject was born in Nassau, New York, September 2Tf, 1817, and died Octo- ber II, 1875. H^'" father, Thomas Sher- man, was born in 1786, and lived to an ad- vanced age, passing away in 1854. He was a farmer in New York. 57S COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Our suliject removed to Columlaia coun- ty, Wisconsin, with iiis parents when lie was about ten years of age, and he was reared there and attended the district school. After attaining- his majority he began farm- ii:g in West Point township and in March, 1882, became superintendent of the Colum- bia county insane asylum and overseer of the poor farm, which position he has since filled. Mr. Miller has faithfully discharged his duties and since he assumed charge good buildings ha\'e been erected for the inmates and many improvements made in the man- ner of conducting the place. The poor farm consists of three hundred acres of land. An average of twenty-five paupers are provided for, and among the number is a centenarian female. Ten female attendants and a num- ber of male attendants and farm laborers are employed in both institutions. Under the present management the institution has become self-supporting. Columbia county was one of the four counties in the state to inaugurate the present system of caring for the chronic insane in 1883. All insane pa- tients are allowed the liberty of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Miller met with strong oppo- sition in the way of public sentiment when they introduced the system, but all has moved well and no accidents ha\'e resulted. One female patient had the reputation of being the most incorrigible in the state un- til she was admitted into the above named institution, and is now one of the cpietest of the inmates. She is a genius in knitting and specimens of her work have been ex- hibited in many places. Mr. Miller was married July 10, 1867, to Mattie L. Oilman, a daughter of Joseph and Emily (Brown) Oilman, of Portage, \\'isconsin. Mrs. Miller was born in Perry. Wyoming county. New York, and came to ^^'isconsin with her parents in 1856. The family settled in Delafield, Waukesha coun- ty, and the following j-ear removed to Co- lumbia county. Mrs. Miller's father, Jo- seph Oilman, was born at Tamworth, New Hampshire, February 6, 1812 and died at Portage, \\'isconsin. in Julv, 1881. He was a farmer for some years and was also em- ployed in a store. Mrs. Miller's mother sur- vives and makes her home at Portage. She was born March 17, 181 7, at Canandaigua, New York. Her husband was a lieutenant of militia in New York while a young man. He organized a company during the "Pa- triot war" in 1838, when the British ves- sels sailed into the harbor of Buft'alo, and made a hard march to reach that city. Pie was a son of Colonel. Oilman, who won his title in the war of 1812. The family was of English descent. Mrs. ^Miller's maternal grandfather, Beriah Brown, was of English descent. Mrs. ]\Iiller's mother was a sister of Beriah Brown, a prominent editor of Wis- consin in pioneer days, and was also a sis- ter of John Brown, one of the founders of the '"Portage Register" and the "Milwau- kee E\-ening Wisconsin." Mrs. Miller in her girlhood and young womanhood taught school for seven years, beginning when she was but fourteen. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of the following children : Emily Robey, now Mrs. L. N. Coapman, of Wyocena; William, a medical student in the Milwaukee ]\Iedical College, and United States census enu- merator for Wyocena in 1900; Lida Britt, who became Mrs. \Vallace Murison. and died at Portage March 4, 1900, aged nearly twenty-three years; Walton B., of Milwau- kee, employed on the C. M. & St. P. Rail- road. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have seven grandchildren. The family attend the Con- gregational church and contribute to the sup- port of all religious organizations. ]\Irs. Miller was an acti\-e member of the ^^^ C. T. U. until the local union was disbanded. Mr. ]\Iiller is a memljer of \Yyocena Camp, No. 1 146, Modern Woodmen of America, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 579 and his wife is a member and at present oracle of tlie Royal Neighbors. Our sub- ject enlisted in February, 1865, in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Forty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, under Lieutenant Steele, of Lodi, ^\'iscl.lnsin, and ser\^ed aliout seven months. He was stationed at j\lem- phis and other places. He is a member of William Payne Post, G. A. R., at Pardee- ville, Wisconsin. Mr. Miller is a Republi- can, but takes little interest in political af- fairs, lending his influence for good local government and does not seek pul)!jc prefer- ment. \\'1LLL\M T. CUDDY. William T. Cuddy, a well-known farmer and highly-esteemed citizen of Marcellon township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, was born in a log house on the farm where he now resides April 10, 1849, ^''^d is a son of William Cuddy, a native of Ireland. The latter came to America in 1822, and spent some time in New York City, where he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the large store of John A. Stewart, remaining there until coming to W'isconsin in 1847. Here he en- gaged in farming on the place now owned by our subject, and continued to follow that oc- cupation until his death in 1864. He was twice married, his first wife being Catherine Grogan, of Ireland, who died in that country prior to the emigration of her husband to the new world. One child was born of that union, John, who died in Nevada, in 1880. In New York City the father married Bridget Senate, who is still living and now makes her home with her son-in-law, George F. Payne, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Of the seven children born of the second marriage, two died in infancy. The others are : Luke, who died January 31, 1873; Helen, deceased wife of J. Kenney; William T., our subject; Mary, wife of George F. Payne; and Catherine, wife of Albert Payne. The father was quite a prominent man in the community, and was highly respected by all who knew him. William T. Cuddy recei\-ed a common- school education and remained at home \m- til 1866, when he went to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, where he worked in the woods and on the river f(jr three years, and then returned to Columbia county, working for John Neff three months. Through harvest he w^as in the emplo}' of P. L. Peckum, and then purchased a third interest in a thresh- ing machine, which he operated three falls. The winter of 1866-67 was spent at honie, but the following spring he went to I^ort- age, where he was engaged with William Neff in the manufacture of sotla, and re- mained there until fall, when he operated his threshing machine in Minnesota. In the spring of 1868 he bought a half interest in the soda business, in which he was interested until August, 1872, when he sold out and went to Nevada, locating on Carson river, five miles from Sih'cr City, where he found work as a laborer in the quartz mill of the Sharon Company, and remained with them nine years, the last year as watchman. Dur- ing the following year he clerked in the general store of Samuel Ripley, at Silver City, and at the end of that time, in com- pany with George Phillips, opened a general store, which they conducted nine months, but owing to some difficulty which' his part- ner, who was under age, had with his father, the business was closed f whom may be found elsewhere in tliis volume, is a resident of the town of Leeds. August 24, 1859, he was born to Jacob and Betsy (Rorgo) Har- vey, living at that time in the town of Hamp- den, Columbia county, Wisconsin, and na- tives of Norway. They came to Wisconsin in 1857 and settled in Hampden. Two years lat- er they moved to the town of Leeds and there spent the rest of their lives. They did much in developing the agricultural interests of Co- lumbia county, and were honest and upright people. Jacob Harvey died in September, 1892, at the age of seventy-three, and his wife January 4, 1897. They were the par- ents of seven children : Ole J., Sr., a resi- dent of the town of Leeds ; Julia, Mrs. Lars N. Harvey, of Benson, Minnesota; Rag- nelda, Mrs. Ole Harfendahl. of the same place; Ole J., Jr., the subject of this nar- rative; Martha, Mrs. John Erickson, of Keiser, Minnesota; Betsy, Mrs. Knute En- fensen, of tlie same place; and Lewis, of Leeds. Mr. Harvey had his early schooling in the town of Leeds. He then attended the high school at Columbus two terms and the state normal school at Whitewater half a year. He took the full business course at the Milwaukee Spencerian Business College. The next two years he was a student in the law ofifice of M, P. Jerdee, of Madison, at the same time writing for Philip Spooner, St., 0. J. HARYEY, JR. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 583 the father of United States Senator John C. Spooner. Mr. Jenlee tlien moved his oifice to St. Croix Falls, and our suhject went with liim. He was in that city ahout a year, when the sickness of his father called him home to take charge of the farm. He returned to the old homestead and has lived there ever since, occupyino- his time with general farming. He is a strong Republican, and is much in- terested in both local and general politics. He came very close to a nomination as reg- ister of deeds at one time, and is nearly al- ways a delegate from lus town at political conventions. Last year he was a delegate to the state convention and was much inter- ested in the outcome. He is the present town treasurer of Leeds, a fact indicating his standing at home. He belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran synod, and is a highly respected citizen of Columbia county. He has served several years as a justice of the peace and at present is one of the directors of the Rio State Bank at Rio. JEREML\H PELLS. Jeremiah Pells is the owner of a fine farm on section 2, Richfield township, Adams county, Wisconsin, which invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as be- ing under the supervision of a thorough and skillful agriculturist, and a man otherwise of good business quahfications. The farm consists of two hundred and fifteen acres, of v.-hich one hundred and forty are under ex- cellent cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings, including a very comfortable residence. A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Pells was born in Albion, Dane county, February 6, 1845, and is a son of Jeremiah and Polly (Gardner) Pells. The father was born on the Mohawk Flats, New York, in 1816, and came to Wisconsin about 1844, locating first in Dane county, and in 1854 removing to Adams courUy, where he purchased eighty acres of land, onlv four of which had been liruken. Here he cmitinued to make his li(ime until his death, with the exception of iiliout two vears. Throughout life he fol- lowed the occupation of farming and affiliat- ed with the Democratic party. Amid pioneer scenes our subject grew to manhood, and early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agri- culturist. He chose farming as his life work, and in his labors has met with well-merited success. Air. Pells was married, August 23, 1 87 1, at Coloma, \\'aushaTa county, to Miss Charlotte Parks, wdio was born in Allegany county. New York, January 18, 1852, and when small was brought to this state by her parents, William and Mary (Meade) Parks, who first located in Dane county, but after- ward removed to Waushara county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Pells have five children, name- ly : Edith, now the wife of Charles Burdick, of Hancock, Waushara county; Arthur; Clara ; George ; and Tressie. On the 3d of September, 1864, at the age of nineteen years, Mr. Pells enlisted at Albion, Dane county, in Company E, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and was sta- tioned most of the time at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, guarding the city of Washington. He was on guard duty the night President Lincoln was assassinated, and fourteen min- utes after the fatal shot was fired received orders to let no one pass under any con- sideration. He was discharged at Fort 0"Rourke, Virginia, June 26, 1865. In pol- itics he is a stanch Republican, and takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs. He is one of the prominent and in- fluential men of his township, and has been called upon to fill various local offices of honor and trust, the duties of which he has most capably discharged. 584 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. WILLIAM E. WILLIAMS, M. D. W^illiam E. Williams, M. D., a well- known and successful physician at Camljria, Columbia county, was born August 2^, 1859, in the village of Cambria, Columbia county, Wisconsin. He is a sun of John Lloyd and Elizabeth (Evans) Williams. The paternal Williams was born at Trefriw, Carnarvon- shire, Wales. He read medicine in Llanrwst, and also attended lectures in Glasgow, Scotland, where he received license to prac- tice. In 1847 he came to this country, and taught the first school in Springvale, Co- lumbia county, in a "dug-out." The same )-ear he began to practice medicine at Cam- bria, when only three persons were living in the \illage. The county rapidly filled up, and Cambria soon became the center of quite a numerous and thrifty population, and here the remaining years allotted to him were spent. x\fter a time he took a course of lec- tures at Rush Medical College, in Chicago, from which he received a diploma in 1863. He continued to practice at Cambria until his death in September, 1888, when over sixty-three years of age. He was a surgeon and physician of high repute, and acquired a wide acquaintance. He was called upon to fill some local positions of trust and honor, but was never a politician. During the Civil war he tendered his services to the United States hospital department, and was sent to Vicksburg, where he was put in charge of the various hospitals of the post, and continued in that important position for four months. His parents were William and Jane (Owens) Williams, who started for the United States in 1847. The voyage lasted ten weeks, and the elder Mr. \\'ill- iams died of fever on the way. Mrs. Will- iams died in the town of Springvale a few ironths later, leaving three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Louis Lloyd is her only surviving child. She lives at Cambria. Mrs. John L. Williams lived until 1894, when she was in her sixty-fourth year. She was born in Carnarvonshire, where her father, Robert Evans, was accidentally killed in a slate quarry. His widow, Mrs. Mary Evans, came to the United States and died in Cam- bria, at the age of seventy-four. Dr. W. E. Williams has always lived in Camjjria and his early days were spent in the public school. When he was eighteen he went into his father's office to read med- icine, and at once proved himself a bright student. When he was twenty he attended lectures for a year at the Missouri JNIedical College, at St. Louis. He transferred him- self to Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and was graduated from the latter institu- tion in 1882. He preferred his tild home and friends to any other spot where he v ould make his life work, and came back to Cambria. About fifteen years ago he bought a drug store, and managed it him- self for some years. In 1895 he sold an in- terest in it, and now gives his personal at- tention entirely to his profession. Dr. Williams was married in 1887 to June B., a daughter of Robert and Mary Smith, of Leon, Wisconsin. She was born in Monroe county, Wisconsin, and is a lady of many attracti\'e qualities. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, and stands high in its various organizations. He be- longs to the Wisconsin State Medical So- ciety, and is widely known as a gentleman of character and a physician of approved abilitv. CHARLES SCHRODER. Charles Schroder, a well-known barber and successful business man of Kilbourn City, Wisconsin, was born in Neuxey, Ger- many, April 13, 1837, and reared in Sacha, where he attended the public schools and COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 585 learned the locksmith's trade. In 1854, at the age of seventeen years, he emigrated to America and first located in Chicag'o, Illi- nois, where he remained abont two years, during which time he learned the barber's trade. He then removed to "Old Newport," on the Wisconsin river, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, and in 1856 came to Kilbourn City, where he attended school in the old school building which now serves as the Episcopal church, while working for Elisha Stevens, who was then conducting a hotel v.-here Frederick Raddant's barn now stands. He continued in school until he acquired a good practical education. In 1859 i\Ir. Schroder opened a barber shop on Superior street, on the present site of M. O'Neil's harness shop, and was in busi- ness there one year, after which he was en- gaged in the same business in Minnesota for a short time. He then went to New Or- leans, Louisiana, and from there visited his old home in Germany. On his return to America he conducted a barber shop in New Orleans tuitil after the Civil war broke out, when he again came to Kilbourn City, Wis- consin. In 1865 he purchased property on Alain street, which is now a very valuable site, and has made many improvements in the building, where he still carries on his shop. He also owns a beautiful and com- fortable home on Main street. In 1865 Mr. Schroder marrietl Miss Atilda Hubbard, and they have three chil- dren : Charles, an engineer, who is married and resides in Kilbourn; Nettie, who grad- uated from a business college of Milwaukee, and is now in the employ of Gimble Brothers in that city; and Lillie, who was educated in the Kilbourn high school and is at home with her parents. Mr. Schroder enlisted, in 1865, in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, and served for three months. As a Republican he takes quite an active interest in political affairs, and has been honored with office by his fellow citizens, having served many years as t(.>wn treasurer to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, and also as a member of the village board of Kilbourn. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. Although he came to the new world empty-handed, he has steadily over- come the obstacles in his path to success, and by industry and perseverance has worked biis way upward until he is ntnv one of the well-to-do citizens, as well as one of the leading and- influential men of the town. He has made for himself an honorable rec- ord and gained the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been brought in contact. ANDREW PATRICK. Andrew Patrick, an agriculturist of en- ergy and ability residing on section 9, New Chester township, Adams county, Wiscon- sin, was born in Oneida county. New York, September 18, 1833, and is a son of Ralph and Marilla (Skinner) Patrick, also natives of that county, the former born June 25, 1 80 1, the latter March 8, 1801. His pa- ternal grandfather, Ralph Patrick, Sr., served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war under the commands of Washington and La Fayette. After the war he settled in Oneida county. New York, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. On leaving his native state the subject of this sketch came to Wisconsin in 1845. and made his home in Walworth county for five years, at the end of which time he re- moved to Adams county, locating on the lilace where he now resides. As the coun- try had not been surveyed at that time, he took a squatter's claim and resided thereon until the land came into the market, when he 586 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. purchased one liundred and sixty acres from the government. He has since placed one- half of the amount under cultivation, and has erected thereon a fine residence, good barns and outbuildings, and made other im- provements, which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the farm. On the 6th of October, 1858, Mr. Pat- rick was united in marriage with Miss Fi- delia Carringer, who died April, 6, 1863, and he was again married, March 14, 1865, his second union being with Miss Olive Car- ringer, by whom he has one child, Louis P. The son was married, March 16, 1899, to Elsie Schieber, and resides at home with his parents. ]\Irs. Patrick's parents were Wihiam and Irene (Churchill) Carringer, the former born in Mercer county, P'ennsylvania, April 3. 1816, the latter in X'ermont, May 3, 1813. In 1844 they removed from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and first settled in Walworth county, but in the spring of 1852 came to Adams county, locating in Lincoln town- ship, on what is now known as the Eber- hard place. In the fall of 1855 they removed to New Chester township, and lived there until the spring of 1865, when they went to Minnesota. In 1895 they returned to Wis- consin on a visit and remained here a year, but at the end of that time removed to Cali- fornia, where the father died May 19, 1900. He was a farmer and carpenter by occupa- tion, and was a member of the Close Commu- nion Baptist church, to which his wife also belonged, her father, Samuel Churchill, be- ing a minister of that church. She died in San Diego, California, April 23, 1899. Mrs. Patrick's great-grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and her grandfather a soldier of the war of 181 2. Politically Mr. Patrick is a stanch Demo- crat, and has always taken considerable in- terest in local affairs, serving as chairman of his township for a number of terms and as assessor one term. For a great many years he also served as postmaster of Grand Marsh, which is the oldest postoffice in the county. He has been prominently identified with almost the entire growth and develop- ment of the county, and has ever borne his part in those interests calculated to advance the ]Dublic welfare. He is therefore mmi- bered among the \'alued and useful citizens of the community, as well as one of its hon- ored pioneers. JOHN LEONARD STAUDEXMAYER. John Leonard Staudenmayer, a thorough and skillful farmer and a business man of n';ore tlian (jrdinar)- ability, is a worthy rep- resentative of the agricultural and stock raising interests of Caledonia township, Co- lumliia county, Wisconsin, where he is recog- nized as an impurtant factor in preserving the reputation of his locality as one of the best cultivated in the county. A native of Columbia county, Mr. Staud- enmayer was born in Caledonia township, July 30, 1861, and is a son of J. G. Stauden- mayer, whose sketch appears elsewhere in tills volume. Our subject attended the dis- trict schools and spent most of his life on the homestead farm, which he purchased at the age of twenty-one. It consists of two hun- dred and twenty-one acres, to which he has since added a one-hundred-and-forty-acre tract, all now under a high state of culti- vation and well improved with good and substantial buildings. For the past ten years, he has been engaged in breeding Durham cattle, and now has a fine herd. He also buys and feeds cattle for the market, and for about twenty years has been breeding Clydesdale iiorses, much of his stock being imported, and he has been largely instru- mental in improving the grade of farm horses throughout Columbia and adjoining COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 587 counties. For nineteen years he operated a threshing macliine with marked success, owning a steam thresher twelve years, and lor some years past he has been agent for the Page woven wire fence in the west half of Columbia county, \\ here during one sea- son he sold over two carloatls. Mr. Staudenmayer was married, Octo- ber 28, 1885, to Miss Mary McLeish, a daughter of Charles and IVIargaret McLeish, of Caledonia township, and by this union has been born four children, namely: Mabel, Adaline, Cora and Gordon. Socially Mr. Staudenmayer is a member of Fort Winne- bago Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., of Port- age. He has independent ideas of public policy, but usually supports the Republican party on national issues, though at local elections when personally acquainted with the candidates he votes for those whom he believes best cjualified to fill the ofiices, irre- spective of party. He is now serving his second year as town treasurer, and has filled other positions of trust and responsi- bility with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. ROBERT L. BOHN. Robert L. Bohn is well known through- out Sauk county as a man of business enter- prise and capability. He is the proprietor of one of the largest general merchandise stores of the vicinity of Lime Ridge, and by careful attention to the various details of his work has built up an extensive and profitable trade. Our subject was born in Renidendorf, Prussia, February 9, 1849, and was a son of Henry H. and Henricka (Kochel) Bohn, farther notice of whom will be fr)und in the biography of C. E. Bohn. The family in- cluded six sons and six daughters, only two of whom reside in Lime Ridge. Robert L. Bohn was but two years of age when the family came to the United States. He spent his boyhood in Ohio, and received a common-school education. At the age of twenty-two years he went to Michigan, and spent two years lumbering, coming from thence to Sauk county in 1874. For about two years he dealt in staves, and in 1876 purchased forty acres of land and a store in the village of Lime Ridge, where he has since operated one of the largest general stores in the locality. He is interested in city real estate to some extent in connection with his brothers in Chicago, and is a well- to-do citizen of Sauk county. He served as postmaster of the village of Lime Ridge for eleven years, and was well kmnvn as an efficient officer. Our subject was married, Octolier 29, 1876, to Belle Cushman, daughter of Charles and Alniira (Warner) Cushman, of Iron- ton, Wisconsin. Her parents came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and settled near Lime Ritlge, where Mrs. Bohn was born. Her father was the first postmaster of the village, and was a carpenter by tratle. He was born in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and his an- cestors were pioneers of Connecticut. He died at Lime Ridge, January 12, 1885, aged sixty-one years, and the mother now resides at C^-owell, Nebraska, aged seventy years. She was born in Fa1)ius, New Wirk, and was of Scotch and New England descent. Her maternal, grandfather, John Robinson, was a Scotchman by birth. Mr. and Mrs. Bohn are the parents of the following chil- dren : Otto L. ; Nellie, a student at Reeds- burg high school; Elsie; Nina, a student of the Yale School at Chicago; Eva; Alta; Clarence; Harvey; Blanche; and Carl. The six last named reside at home. Mr. Bohn is a man of good education and advances the interests of the community in which he lives and works for the best systems of schools and government. He does not seek 588 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. public office and pursues the even tenor of his wa}', but the affairs which are under daily discussion are famiHar ones to liim and he lends his influence for the better rule in his opinion. He favors Republicanism, and is strong" in his con\'ictions. He came to Wis- consin as a young man in search of an open- ing for energetic and capable men, and he has pushed his way to the front among the prominent men of the locality, and enjoys not only financial success, but the highest esteem of his associates among whom he has chosen to reside for many years. They find him ever ready to do his duty by all, and standing firmly for the right in all mat- ters of moment. HERBERT LEROY MASON. The farming community of Jackson township, Adams county, has an able repre- sentative in the g^entleman above named. He is entitled to much credit for the part he has taken in the development of this re- gion into a thri\-ing agricultural district. He has fi_>llowed the calling of a farmer from his youth and is thoroughly conver- sant with the details of the work and has built for himself a comfortable estate, and is recognized as one of the leading men in his community. He is progressive and pub- he-spirited, and ever)^ enterprise tending to- ward an advance in civilization meets with his hearty approval. Mr. Mason was born in Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, ]\Iarch 3, 1859, the son of H. H. and Emeline (Bump) Mason, a sketch of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was about ten years of age when the family came tu Adams county, Wisconsin, and at the age of twenty-one years he began work as a farm laborer. Later he rented land and en- gaged in farming for himself at Jonesville, remaining there several years. He pur- chased his present farm in Jackson town- ship in 1890, and now owns two hundred and forty-fi\'e acres of land. He has im- proved the dwelling and Iniilt a commodious and convenient barn, and otherwise im- proved the estate. He is interested in stock raising to some extent, and has made a suc- cess of general farming and dairying. Mr. Mason was married, January 30, 1883, to Mary Jones, daughter of Nelson and Lucy Jones, of Jackson township. Mrs. Mason died September 22,. 1891, aged twen- ty-nine years and fifteen days. She was the mother of three children : Tressie May, Flor- ence Ethel and Mary J. Mr. Mason married Edith Grace Houghtaling, May 13, 1894. Mrs. Mason was born in Adams county, Wisconsin, and is the daughter nf Aaron and Ursula (Hawes) Houghtaling. Her father was born in Albany county. New York, and now resides in Marquette county, Wisconsin, and her mother was born in Lo- rain county, Ohio, and died at O.xford, Wis- consin, February 5, 1887, aged forty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are the parents of one daughter, Irene. Mr. Mason is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 91, A. F. & A. M., and Oxford Camp, Modern Wood- men of America. In political views he has been a Republican from his boyhood, and takes an active interest in all matters of a public nature. He has been a resident of Adams county, and a land owner of Jacksow tiiwnship, for o\'er a decade of years, and has always been found on the side of right and justice. She is one of the esteemed members of his community, and well merits his success. FRANK OR\TLLE HUNT, M.D. Frank Orville Hunt, M. D., was born at Whitewater, Wisconsin, June j8, 1867, and is a son of Wilham and Marian (How- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 589 ard) Hunt, who are still livin.o- in that city. The father came from Somersetshire. Kng- land, in 1855, and in company with hi.-^ Iirother, Timothy, bought a farm near Whitewater. He disposed of it after a few years and leaving his brother in possession, moved to LaGrange, a rural center not far away. Frank Orville was only six years old when his father settled in Lima, Wiscon- sin, where the family li\-e(l for more than twenty years. The aged jiarents have now retired from acti\-e lal)ors, and are leading a (|uiet life at Whitewater, surrounded with well-earned comforts. The early education of our subject was continued in the Cravath school, and later he was a student at the AMiitewater Normal. While here lie selected the practice of medicine for his life work, and when his normal cnurse was ended he entered Bennett Eclectic College at Chica- go, and after a brilliant course in that insti- tution was graduated in the spring of 1890. He opened an office at Elkhorn, but hear- ii;g that Fall, River was more desirable came l.ere March 26, 1891. His arrival seemed o]Dportune, and he entered almost immedi- ately into a very satisfactory practice. He is now one of the fixtures of the place. Dr. Hunt and Miss Minnie Obrion were married June 28, 1894. She is a daughter of Horace S. and Angelia ( Fiero) Obrion, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages. She is the mother of one child. Marion Angelia, born March 31, 1900. Dr. Hunt is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 75, and of the Knights of Pythias at Co- lumbus. He is also a member and examin- ing physician of the Modern Woodmen and the Equitable Fraternal Union at Fall River, and, with Mrs. Hunt, is in the Royal Neigh- bors, she being associated also with the W'oman's Relief Corps. The Doctor is ex- aminer for the Northwestern Life Associa- tion of Minneapolis, and the Accidental In- surance Company, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a prominent figure in the Wisconsin and the National Eclectic Aledical. Societies, and takes a deep interest in the development of his profession. He is a Republican and deeply interested in the vital public questions, and is a gentleman of most excellent repute. AUGUST SIEFERT. It is astonishing- t(.) witness the success of young men who ha\-e emigrated to Amer- ica without capital and from a position of comparative obscurity have worked their way upward to a position of prominence. The readiness with which they adapt thein- selves to circumstances and take advantage of opportunities offered brings to them suc- cess and wins them a place among the lead- ing men of the community in which they re- side. A prominent representative of this class is August Siefert, one of the most suc- cessful business men and influential citizens of Reedsburg, Wisconsin. He was born in \^elmeden, Hessen- Nassau, Germany, August 14, 1855. a son of Rev. Carl Frederick and Antoinette ( Heller) Siefert. The father, a minister of the Evan- gelical church, was located at \'elmeden a number of years, but died at iMilmes, Kreis Hersfeld, Hessen-Nassau, in March, 1872, at the age of sixty-nine years. He toiik an actix'e and prominent part in educational and other public aft'airs, and was honored and respected by all wdio knew him. The wife and mother is still living, at the age of over seventy years, and now makes her home in Cassel, Germany. During his boyhood and ynt it was not until afterwartl when he saw his portrait that he knew who the gen- tral was. Our subject was married April 25, 1852, to Margaret Baird, daughter of William A. and Maria (Van Horn) Baird, natives of Charlestown, Montgomery county, New York, the former of Scotch and the latter of Dutch lineage. Mrs. Emery's father came to A\'isconsin in 1852 and resided in Colum- bia county until 1854, when he settled in Westfield township, Sauk county, where he died at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. Baird was a cooper by trade and did more or less at his trade in \Yisconsin. Mrs. Emery's mother survived him until 1884, when she died at the age of eighty-nine years. Mrs. Emery was born in Volney, Oswego county, New York. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emery: Lina M., now Mrs. Benjamin Sea- mans, of Dunjap, Iowa; Nelson \\., who married Nancy Brown, of Franklin town- ship; Martha J., now Mrs. Hiram Prouty, of Bear Creek township; Angie, now Mrs. Albert Hines, of Janesville, Wisconsin ; Mary, now Mrs. W. Tibbitts, of Reedsburg township; Ella, now Mrs. James Taylor, of Dunlap, Iowa ; George M. married Sarah Schluter, daughter of Henry Schluter, and resides on the home farm ; Ida May, the wife of Charles Gregory, of South Haven, Michi- gan. Four of the children have been teach- ers, and George and Nelson for several years have operated a sorghum mill. Air. Emery has filled many of the offices of his township, and is a prominent worker for his commu- nity's interests. He has been a member of the Republican party since its organization, and voted for Zachary Taylor in" 1848, ai. the first presidential election held in Wis- consin. HENRY SEYMOUR HOLDEN. Henry Seymour Ilolden, an honored \eteran of the Civil war, and for many years an influential citizen of Wisconsin, is now passing the last years of his life in Fairfield township, Sauk county. He was born in Kingville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, January 13, 1826, and is a son of Ambrose and Sylvia (Dunton) Hol.den, both native to the soil of Vermont. Ambrose Holden came of a large family in Vermont, and soon after the war of 1812 removed to Ohio, and spent the balance of his days in Ashtabula county, where he died at an advanced age. He was a Whig and a member of the Alethodist church. His wife was left an orphan in early life, and was adopted by Elijah Dun- ton, who came from Vermont into Ohio, where he was a popular hotel keeper. To Ambrose Holden were born thirteen chil- dren, of whom only one, the subject of this biographical sketch, located in Wisconsin. Hem-y Seyinour Holden grew to inan- hood on what was then the frontier line of civilization and recei\'ed but a limited edu- cation. He had a ready mind antl a quick perception, and close study of the great world around him has very largely supplied the lack of schooling. When he became old enough to care for himself he was set to learn the trade of carriage maker at Geneva, Ohio. He became a capable workman, and in 1850 came west to Dundee, Illinois, where he worked at his trade, and conducted a wagon shop for some years. He enlisted in the Federal army September 11, i86i, and became a member of Company I, Fifty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He spent three years in active service, and was discharged at Rome, Georgia, October 24, 1864. He had an extensive and varied ex- perience as a soldier, and was under the com- mand of Rosecrans, Grant and Sherman while they had command of the Army of 608 COMPENDIUM ^OF BIOGRAPHY Tennessee, in which his mihtary service was very largely contained. He passed through some of the bloodiest scenes of the war. At Shiloh o\'er one-third of his regiment was killed or wounded, and at Corinth he was under tire for two days. At that point he was detailed to duty in the government wagon shops, and was kept at this work until May, 1864, when he rejoined his regiment, at Kingston. Georgia, and continued on active duty until after the fall of Atlanta, taking part in many serious engagements, escaping without a wound, though often exposed to danger on the firing line. After ^Ir. Holden had returned from the war he came to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and fol- lowed his business, wagon-making, in that thriving city. He bought a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres in the town of Fair- field, soon after coming into the state, which constitutes his present home. This land he has converted into a very choice estate. It is provided with ample and commodious buildings, and has every facility for farm- ing operations that the times require. In re- cent years he has rented the farm, though still continuing to make it his home. He was married, October 10, 1847, to Eliza- beth Cowles at Geneva, Ohio, where she was born and reared. She was a daughter of Alpheus and Polly Cowles, and died June 30, 1 89 1, when over sixty-nine years old. Her father was a veteran of the war of 1812. He came to \\'isconsin and died in Fairfield township wlien ninety years of age. He was an acti\e and energetic man, of rugged honesty. He was a strong Abo- litionist, and an earnest and pushing char- acter. In early life he studied for the Pres- b\'terian ministry, but became a Free Thinker and gave up all thoughts of tlie pulpit as a place for him. Air. and Mrs Holden were the jiarents of five children : Sylvia M. was born March 9, 1849, mar- ried Miles Duston, and d'ed May iS, 1871 : Jane Annie, born January 31, 1852, married T. H. W'arne. antl died April 14, 1895 ! Fran- ces L., born May 31, 1855, died September 4, 1859; Ruby R., born April 25, 1857, mar- ried George Clark, and died October 2, 1880; Harriet K., born May 21, i860, mar- ried Fred Milner, and has her home in the town of Baraboo. Mr. Holden has twelve living grandchildren and eight great-grand- children. He has always been a Republican since the formation of the party. He voted for Taylor in 1848, and, though not a pol- itician, has filled from time to time various local positions of trust and responsibility. Throughout his entire life he has held the confidence and esteem of all wdio knew him and well deserves the peace and comfort that crown his last davs. A. E. HECOCKS. A. E. Hecocks, wdio has spent his entire life in Adams county, has been actively iden- tified with its agricultural interests. He was born at Davis Corners, Adams county, De- cember 25, 1852, and is the oldest son of Ephraim and Lucinda (Campbell) Hecocks, natix'es of New York State and honored pio- neers of Adams county, Wisconsin, having located here in 1847 among the first settlers. The father took up a squatter's claim near Davis Corners, in Jackson township, and in early days worked on the government sur\-ey in this locality, being connected with the laying out of all the roads in his \-icinity. He also helped organize townships and school districts, and in many ways was prom- inently identified with the development and improvement of Adams county. Being a car- penter by trade, he erected the first house in Dell Prairie township, on the farm now owned l)y Jackson Bagley. He had an ex- tended acquaintance throughout several COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 009 counties, was high!_\- esteemed l)y all who knew him, and most creditably filled nearly every office in his township. After an honor- able and useful life he died at Davis Corners June 19, 1877, and was buried there. Alonzo E. Hecocks, the subject of this review, received such an education as the dis- trict schools of the county afforded during his boyhood. He assisted his father in clear- ing and impro\-ing the home farm and re- mained under the parental roof until twenty- three years of age when he began farming iiV. his own account. In his labors he met viith well-merited success, and at the end of three years came into possession of the old homestead, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres under excellent cultivation, and here he has since carried on diversified farm- ing with marked success. On the 1 8th of December. 1874, 2slr. Hecocks was united in marriage with Miss Rozena \'. Foat, who was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, in March, 1853. Her parents, Stephen D. and Lois (Clark) Foat, were also pioneers of Jackson township, Adams county, having located at Davis Corners in 18^7. Her father was a native of England and emigrated to the United States when a small boy. He became one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Adams county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hecocks were born fi\'e chiklren, namely: Clarence, who is married and resides in Adams coun- ty-; Tressie, wife of Fred Bowers, a promi- nent young farmer of Jackson township; Effie, who has prepared herself for teaching in the high schools of Kilbourn City and A\'estfield, Wisconsin; and Dorcy and Arch- ie, both at home. Since attaining his majority Mr. Hecocks has affiliated with the Republican party, and has taken quite an active and prominent part in local ]3olitics, filling various township of- fices with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general public. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alli- ance of Adams county and was chosen its first president, which position he filled for several years, managing its affairs with wonderful discrinfination and ability. He lias manifestetl his interest in educational af- fairs by efficientl}' ser\ing as a school officer for twenty-five years, and is responsible for nianv impro\-ements made in the schools. When the ci i-(i])erati\e cheese factory was established, he became a stockhnlder in the company and was chosen an officer. It will thus be seen that he has been prominently identified with many worthy enterprises, and he is therefore justly numbered among the most progressi\-e and useful citizens of the community. He is a member of the Home Forum, and is lieUl in high regard by all who kiiLiw him on account of his sterling worth. JOHN CHESTER JARVIS. John Chester Jar\-is is a successful and ii'.fluential farmer of Pacific township, Co- lumbia county, where he is now at the \-ery prime of his powers, and commands the re- spect and regard of all who know him. He was born at Terry, Lincolnshire, England, and is a son of William and Hannah (Ches- ter) Jarvis, both natives of Terry, They came to the L'nited States a few weeks after the birth of the subject of this article. In England William Jarvis was employed as a groom on an estate for a number of years. Later he was engaged in farming. Upon coming to America he was six weeks on the ocean. He landed at New York and came by the great lakes to Milwaukee. There he hired teams to take his goods and family to Fox Lake, and when he reached his des- tination he had but five English so\ereigns. Four years later he bought wild land in the town of Scott. Cohunbia countw This he 610 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. cleared and thoroughly improved, and now owns as handsome a quarter section as is to be found in this part of the state. He is now about seventy-eig'ht, and his wife seventy- six. His mother, Elizabeth Jarvis, came to C(jlumbia count^■, and died Januar}- 24, 1874, at the age of eighty-three. The fa- ther of Mrs. William Jarvis, John Chester, was the owner of several vessels engaged in the coasting trade in England, and was a man of more than the usual ability. Air. and Mrs. Jarvis had four daughters and two sons, the eldest of whom was John C, the subject of this writing. Elizabeth married a Mr. Flanders, and is now dead. George lives in the town of Scott, and Sarah, who is Mrs. Hiram Horner, of Cedar Falls, \\'is- consin. Emma married Alliert Hewitt and is now dead. Charlotte, who is dead. There have been born ten grandchildren, of whom nine are now alive, and one great-grand- child. Jolm C. Jarvis lias lived in Columbia county from early boyhood. He attended district school and availed himself of such educational advantages as the times afforded. At twenty-two he was a farm hand, and the ne.\t year he rented a jjlace for himself. In the spring of 1876 he removed to his present farm in the town of Pacific. Here he bought forty acres of wild land. He cleared the ground and built a small house and barn. From time to time he has added to, his farm- ing land until he now owns a fine place of two hundred acres. It is highlv improved. He follows mixed farming, and has some fine grade li\-e-stock on the place. Air. Jarvis was married, October 30, 1S73, to Alary, daughter of Chauncey F. and Alma (Barker) Roberts. A sketch of her father appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Jarvis was born in the town of Scott, and is the mother of four daughters : Su- san, who is Mrs. Frank Whittingham, of Pardeeville, and has one boy, Chester; Isa, Mrs. Chester Yunker, who is living at Oak- k.nd, California; Mary, a teacher in the public schools, and Alma, who is at home. Both Isa and Mary have had an extensive and creditable experience as teachers. Alma is still attending school. The parents have given much attention and care to the educa- tion of their children, and an air of culture and refinement pervades the home. Mr. Jarvis has been a lifelong Republican. He has filled some of the township offices, but usually declines to serve. Farming is his business, and he does not propose to turn aside from his life work for any slight con- siderations. For fourteen years Mr. Jarvis owned and conducted a threshing machine. He is one of the well-known men of Co- lumljia countv. ARTHUR AAIASA PORTER. A reputation for enterprise of the right sort is a mighty help towards success, and it is this kind of a reputation which makes the subject of this sketch among the most prominent young men of Columbia county. .Vrthur Amasa Porter, son of John Lor- enzo anil Ann Eliza (Boies) Porter, was born at Pacific, Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, on the north one-half of northeast quar- ter of section 22i, township 12, range 9, July 15, 1857, where his boyhood days were spent. Upon reaching his majority he taught school in different parts of his native county for about twelve years, until 1889, when he was commissioned postmaster at the office at Pa- cific, which position he held till he was elected register of deeds for Columbia coun- ty in 1894, and re-elected in 1896. During this time he made a complete abstract of titles of Columbia county, which are now Ins personal property, and which, in conjunc- tion with real estate, furnishes him a \ery lucrative business. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 613 In the fall 1898 the Republican party of his county showed their appreciation of his ability and tact by electing him chairman of the county committee, and re-electing him in 1900, which position he still fills to the entire satisfaction of his part}-. In the spring of 1900 he was elected ;i delegate ti.i the Republican national convention lield at Philadelphia June 19, 1900, from the Second congressional district of Wisconsin. He was married April 23, 1883 to Mary A. Rhynesmith, daughter of John L. and Elmyra (Harvey) Rhynesmith, and grand- daughter of Charles Ryhnesmith, and great- granddaughter of John Rhynesmith, of "Bin- gen on the Rhine." She was also grand- daughter 'if Francis Marzale on her mother's side. Two chiklren are the result of this marriage; Hazel E., born ]\[ay 13, 1889, and Glad}-s Marion, born May 11, 1894. "Sir. Porter is now living in the city of P'ortage. and though he began life as a poor boy, hewing out his own way, he is now in comfortable circumstances, and still owns his interest in the farm which his father bought when he first came to Wisconsin. His father, John Lorenz^i Porter, son of Amasa Porter, was born in Seneca county, New York, September 14, i8j8, and came to Pacific, Columbia county, Wisconsin, from Erie county. New ^'ork, in the year 1856. He married Artemesia Bates, Xo\ember i, 1849, who died in Xuxember, 1850, leaving one son, Dewitt D., who was born July 20, 1850, and now lives in Portage, having mar- ried Sarah Merwin, and has three children : Yinnie, Mamie and Frank. I\Ia\' 12, 1854, he married Ann Eliza Boies, who was born October i, 1826, in Erie county. New York; she was the daughter of Warren Boies, who was born October 27, 1728, and died Sep- tember 16, 1839, and Polly Patterson, daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca (Gibbs) Patterson, who was a direct descendant of Israel Gibbs, of Lenharn, Yorkshire, Eng- land. By this second marriage there were three children : Arthur Amasa, the subject ci this sketch; Leslie Lewellyn, born June 20, 1859, living at Oregon City, Oregon, married Ora Spangler in September, 1899; and Frank Flint, born October 31, 1862, liv- ing at Denver, Colorado, and married to Alma Peterson, having one child, Doris E. John Lorenzo Porter was among the old and most prominent citizens of Columbia county, having settled on the large farm in the town of Pacific, section 26, north one-half north-east one-quarter and part of section 23, township 12, range 9, which was his home until 1889, and where his three young- est children were born, when he moved to Portage to spenil his days in well earned ease. In 1873 Mr. Porter was elected to the Wisconsin legislature; he was an ardent Republican and a forcible speaker, and at once took a leading position among the members of that body, being a man of strong- convictions, of more than ordinary intelli- gence and breadth of information, an om- niverous reader, well thought of by his neighbors and a useful, upright citizen. He died at Portage, Wisconsin, June 16, 1897, and is "at rest" in Pacific cemetery, and lies side by side with his father and mother and many other relatives who were buried there years ago. Amasa Porter, grandfather of Arthur Amasa Porter, was born March 12, 1804, and died at Pacific. Wisconsin, April 13, 1872. He married Eliza \\'eatherlo May 18, 1826. She was born October 19, 1802, and died January 2^. 1873. Their family consisted of seven children, viz. ; Samuel W., born ]\Iarch 19, J 827, died December 6, 1889. He was married to Eunice Calk- ins, having two children who died in in- fancv: John Lorenzo, the father of the .sub- ject of this sketch; Jacob \\'ilbur. born Sep- tember I, 1830, married Martha Calkins and 614 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. liad eiglit cliildren : Adora EUer, Adilla Flower, Stella Cumniings, Anna Wrighton, Eugenia Fairbanks, (irace Lo\ e and Mark ; Erastus Alexander, horn August 21, 1834, married Maria Bump, and has four chil- dren, Orlo, Almon, William and Lida Jones; Sarah, born March 29, 1837, married Ben- amin F. Bull, they having five children, Guy, Milton, Lorenzo, Frank and Zella ; Mina, born No\-ember 3. 1838, married Peter Drake, and has four children, Earl, Carl, Mark and Kitt)' ; Lavina and Schuyler died immarried. Eliza W'eatherlo's father. Samuel \\'eath- erlo, was born January 31, 1776, and died February 18, 1862. He married Lavina Daly in 1798. She was born August 16, 1784, and died July 16, 1855. Alexander Porter, a great-grandfather of Arthur Amasa, grandfather of John Loren- zo, the father of Amasa, was born December 16 (or 14). 1756, at Hebron, Cortnecticut, and died at Freedom. New York, and he was the son of John and Sarah Porter. He en- listed June II, 1775, in the Sixth Company, "Champions," Eighth Regiment, command- ed by Abijah Rowell. April 28, 1783, he married Zurviah Phelps, who was born April 24, 1762, and died December 12. 1841. She was the daughter of Silvanus and Zurviah (Sweetland) Phelps, who were married July 16, 1755- Alexander Porter had eight children : Lucina, Polly, Hannah. Alexander. Are- thusia, Saphronia, Emcle and .\masa. Polly married Calvin \\'. IMoffett, who had nine children, Edwin, Lucina, Ada- line, Louisa Sager, Orlando, Erastus, Chaun- cey, Calvin W. and Amanda Sturtevant, of Cleveland, Ohio. Hannah, born May 2, 1790, died April 9, 1878. She was mar- ried to Eli Hyde and had nine children : Abijah. born April 15. 1810, married Eunice Green and had *\\q children. J(_)hn II. and Clark ; Reuben ; Eliza, married October 28, 1836, to James Chalker; Alniina; Xelson ; Silvester, born May i. 1820; Julius, b(irn March ly. 1822; Laura; Harriet, born De- cember 21, 1827, married to Francis C. Heath June 20, i8=;7; Alexander, Jr., set- tled in northern Pennsylvania, had a number of children, one being Dr. Abel Porter ; Are- thusa, born October 4. 1796, died March 18, 1864, was married in October, 18 17, to Lu- ther Battles and had ten children : Zurviah, born December 18, 181 8, married James E. Keyt ; Edwin D., born July 22. 1820; Mary; Sarah, born December 25, 1823, mar- ried John Presby ; Luthen, born September 29, 1826; Newton, born May 10, 1828; Henry D., born October i, 1836: John T., born November 14, 1839; Sophronia mar- ried Nathan Corwin and had five children : Harvey, Mary J. Lingenfelter, Angeline Haws, Charles Corwin and Juliette; Emele Applebee (Keokuk, Iowa) and Amasa. Arthur A. Porter's ancestors, as far back as we can trace them at present, are as fol- lows : John Porter, born in England, went to Dorchester. Massachusetts, in 1630, and to Windsor, Conneoticut, about 1639; married' Rose . He died at W' indsor, April 22, 1848, and she died at Windsor, July — , 1647. John Porter, born in England, 1620. first child of above (came to this country in ship "Planter"). Married Mary Stanley. 1650. She \\'as daughter of Thomas Stanley, from England, 1635, thence to Hartford, Con- necticut, 1636, thence to Hadley, Massachu- setts. He died at Windsor, August 2, 1688, and she died at Windsor September 13, 1688. John Porter, born January 3, 1651. first child of above, mafried. December 16, 1669, to Joanna Gaylord, daughter of Walter Gaylord and Mary Stebbins. Walter Gay- 'lord was son of William Ga}-lrt to every enterprise calculaitefl to a/lvance the m\dams county, Wisconsin, ami worked for his father tmtil sixteen years of age, when he bought his time and starter! out to make his own way in the world, following various occupations until after his marriage, On the 19th of May, 18S7, Mr. Mason i Miss Mina L. Clark, who was tiorn - r 25, 1865, in Hammond, Pennsyl vania. of which state her parents, Lewis C. and Harriet (iWf^ty) Clark, were also na- tives. Fr/r generations her ancestors have ioMovr&l the occupation of farming. Her parents were married in 1864, and in 1870 they remwed, with tlieir family, to Wis- consin, locating first in Portage and later making their home in Black River Falls and rvj'arshfield. In this state the father engagcl in lumljering. Mrs, Mason was e^Iucated in the public schools of Portage and at the age 01 nineteen commenced learning the dress- maker's trade, in which she became very profident and which she followed for three y<-^ri V-rV-r^ b»rr marriage. To our sub- ject and his wife were liorn three children; Elugene A., born Augtist 2, 1888; L.ana E., bom July 7, 1894; and Hiram L., bom July 22, 1896. After his marriage, in 1887, Mr. Mason located in West Superior, Wisconsin, where be marie claim of one humlre^! am! sixty acres of land am! lived thereon for so'eral years, but finally lost it through railroad litigation, which was a sad Mow to his busi- ness prospects for a time. He then renKrt-ed to the Phillips farm in Big Spring, Arjams county, where be successfully engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred July 7, 1898. In (894 he and his wife had uniter! with the MetfKxlist Episco^ pal church, am! at the time of his death he was serving as trastee of the church and superintendent of the Sunrlay school- He was instrtunental in organizing the Good 1 etnplars Irjdge at Big Spring, took an act- ive part in carrying forward the wrjrk, and was the worthy chief templar rjf the lodge. He also held offices in the Modern Woodmen camp, of which he was a prominent member, ami was a Republican in politics.' He was greatly attached to his family and found his greatest enjoyment in the home drcle. He was public-spirited and progressive, and in his death the aimmamty rtahztA that it harl lost a valuer! dtizen. Mrs. Mason has since purchaser! a gorxJ farm of eighty acres, kmjwn as the Braley farm, which is improver! with grxx! Imild- ings, ami which slie successfully operates- She is a mrjst estimaljle lad}-, and, like Iter husband, makes many friends. WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER MEYER. William Christr^jher Mej'er, a prc»sper- ous and intelligent agriculturist of Reeds- burg, Sauk county, Wiscr^nsin, who has met COMPENDIUM OV BIOGRAPHY. CM with a well-ilescn-ed success i: 'm calling, is a native of Germany, his birth having ^xcurred in Sudeliurg, province of Hanover, February 27, 1863, His j/arenLs, Henry and Dorothea (Meyer) Meyer, came with their family to the United States in 1864, and se*' Qenwoo^l, Gx4c ccxmty. Ilh'nf>i in^ t/^> Will coun- ty. • ' '■ father hi'. * vr, Iwt in tftis iJjuUiij i»fc i-VjiOW; suits, and became one 01 tial and prf^perf/asi farmers, as weii as one of the nvist highly esteemerl c;'.;/.',-?, -, vf his ammmnity. In October, 189. v Keedstiurg, Wisconsin, where ;.<. ..... ... re- tirement frf.»m active labf^ until called from this life FeJfl-uary 26, 1893, >.♦ • - se*'enty years, Hb wife is st: at the age of .%e\-enty-6e*-en j-ear-,. William C. ilej-er, the subject of this review, grew u^ mimWjfA in GyA county, Illinois, ami f'/r v^r?n^ ye?.r* h«; *vk charge of a eighty acres in Keed*l.»urg f^wnshi;., his father ha^l purchased a short time be- fore his death. It is now nearly all under a high state of cukivatvjn and most ad- mjr<' - ■ .red. He has .- - ■ 1/ar ; now 1^54 ?' re»i'ie:.'-e ar.'l ;.ai : the c^/nveniences a;. //n a nvAe\ farm of .. In connection wjifi '4t:^!t:rn) iarum.a^ ht give* some atten- ti'/n t^/ dairying, lie'-.i'ie* his farm here he still owns a valuable }Wece of two hundred and twenty acr^ near Crete, Illinois, Mr. Meyer wa» married October 13, 1891, to MiM Dora Lorenzesi, who was bom in Uphonfon. Holstein, (iertmny, and Clone to America in J 889. Her parent*, Skr/izi P. and Bendina /"YeiMm) I»renzen, are now living near Crete, Illinois. To our .subject ami his wife have Ijeen lx.»rn the fol- lowing children : Dora Bemlina, Alvina Au- gusta, Alma Louisa, and Esther Magdalena. The family hold meml^ership in St, Peter's Lutheran church at Keerlsburg, an/1 are quite prominent in the l^est s^jcial circles of their community. Since casting his first vote Mr. Meyer ' 'the Republican I*arty iently served as • 4- JAMES SCOTT. James Scott, one of the nv.>st highly-es- "iemed pi'/neers of OJumbia county, is now ring in retirement in Pardeeville, in a af/me of m<.'/'•, ^jne from ScAlaml i.n'' !.'':! '/. ^jr/ H/ivari'jA age in Livingston c ': town of Scottslmrg was namt vnor. The father of oor subject was a successful farmer and died in Livingston county at )e age of forty-eight years. The mother -urvived him se^'eral years. Her inlh(:r, Henry fiilman, was of German lineage and came fr'ym Perini»ylvania, and the m;i'' grandmother of '/ijr -m^ >]"/:*., Arirm G; reache/1 old age in L; ;nty. Our subject wass '.>ne of /; '.-n, an'l h"; and hi* Wother, .Matthew, wm.» nov/ r at Scottsl/urg, New V'ork, are the on;^. viving mem^ierh of the family, James 5>cott is the only one of his fa- ther's family who came to Wisconsin, He located in Racine county in the fall of 184/^, and f'^rtjr vear* later moved to OAumhin 618 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. count}', where he Hved about three years in Marcellon and kept a tavern known as the "Fox River Honce," in partnership with his fatlier-in-law, Abram L. Crippen. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in the t(j\vn of Wyocena and soon afterward purchased one hundred and forty- three acres adjacent in the town of Spring- vale. He afterward bought one hundred and ten acres in Springvale township and ten acres of marsh land in Wyocena township. He resided on his farm and brought two hundred and seventy-five acres to a high state of cultivation. He rented the farm in 1893 and removed to the village of Pardee- ville, where he erected his present com- fortable home. Our subject was married, October 21, 1847, to Phcebe Maria Crippen, daugh- ter of Abram L. and Maria Crippen, of Waterford, Racine county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Scott was born in Livingston county, New York, May 6, 1831, and died October 12, 1867. The following children were born to this union : Ida died at the age of fourteen months; Frank died in his eighth year; twins, who died in infancy; Ada, now Mrs. R. Falconer, of Camp Douglas, Wisconsin ; and Fred, residing in the town of Wyocena. Mr. Scott was married to Mrs. Phoebe C. Williams October 5, 1870. Mrs. Scott was the widow of Morris S. Williams, of whom farther notice is found in the sketch of R. M. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have one daughter, named Minnie May, now Mrs. Harry Atkinson, of Springvale town- ship. Mr. Scott has seven grandchildren. Mrs. Scott bore the maiden name of Phcebe C. King. She was born in Che- nango county. New York, and was a daugh- ter of Jeremiah H. and Mary (Merrihevv) King, who were natives of New York, and pioneers of Chenango county, that state. Her father reached the age of sev- enty-five years there, and the King set- tlement near Norwich was founded by his family. Mrs. Scott's grandfather, John King, served in the Continental army. Mrs. Scott's former marriage occurred October 25, 1849. Four children were born to this union, who were as follows: Robert M., re- siding in Pardeeville; Sarah Jane, who be- came the wife of F. A. Healy and is now de- ceased; Mary, now Mrs. John Baillies, of Springvale township; and Cliarles H., an architect at Pardeeville. i\Irs. Scott has twenty-one grandchildren and one great- grandchild. While residing in New York Mr. Scott was a member of the New York militia. He is a Republican, but in early life was a Whig and voted for Harrison in 1840. MRS. A:MELIA HYATT. Mrs. Amelia Hyatt, nee Seward, of New Haven township, Adams county, Wisconsin, is a worthy representative of an old and hon- ored family of this state, and is one of its pioneer teachers. She was born in Almon, Allegany county. New York, November 12, 1838, a daughter of Enos and Mary (Hop- kins) Seward. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was killed by the Indians. He possessed long, curly, red hair, and his death was ascer- tained by finding his scalp in possession of the Indians. His father, then an old man, conducted twenty women and children on foot through the forests from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, as their luisbands and fathers v.-ere all in the war and the Indians had be- come very troublesome. A brother of Mrs. Hyatt's paternal grandmother was one of the first settlers of Stevens Point, Wiscon- sin, and the town was named in his honor. He was a trapper and fur dealer. Her fa- ther, Enos Seward, was a near relative of William H. Seward, President Lincoln's COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 019 secretary of state. The record of the Seward famil^• can be traced Ijack to 1760. They were pioneer settlers of Allegany county, New York, where they made their first im- provements, and assisted in (organizing the school districts and estaljlishing churches, etc. Mrs. Hyatt was educated in the common schools of New York and Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, having come to this state in 1852. At the age of fifteen years she com- menced teaching the first district school in what is now known as the Vroman district of Jackson township, Adams county, con- ducting the same in a building twelve feet scjuare, intended for a smoke house. She received a dollar and a quarter per week and "boarded round"' among the scholars. She continued teaching for four years, and among her scholars were Mrs. Frazier Ox- ford, Janie Johnson and Bill Johnson. Her sister, Amanda, taught the first school in the Ward district of New Haven township, Adams county. On the 31st of August, 1858, Miss Amelia Seward gave her hand in marriage to W. F. Hyatt, of New Haven township, who was born September 29, 1832, in As- cctt, Ontario, Canada, and came to Wiscon- sin in 1856. His father, Abraham C. Hy- att, was born in Connecticut, but at an early day went to Canada, traveling on horse- back. W. F. Hyatt worked in the pineries and at other occupations until 1864, when he purchased eighty acres of rich and arable land in New Haven township, Adams coun- ty, to which he afterward added a forty-acre tract, and upon which he made many use- ful and valuable improvements. In Octo- ber, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Sev- enth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and re- mained in the service until the close of the war, participating in many hard-fought en- gagements and in the Weldon railroad raid. He was finally taken ill and sent to a hos- pital in Washington, D. C, from which he was discharged when hostilities ceased. On I'ris return home he resumed farming, and was accounted one of the most successful ag- riculturists of his community. He was a man of high moral worth, was reared in the Universalist faith, and was greatly at- tached to his family. He ever took a com- mendable interest in public affairs. He died May 3, 1890, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. Mrs. Hyatt now success- fully carries on the home farm and has dis- played good business and executi\-e al.)ility in the management of her affairs since her liusband's death. In the family were the following chil- dren: Nora is the wife of Charles Hartson, a farmer and business man (jf New Rock- ford, North Dakota. Orilla, wife of H. Tyler, died August 24, 1890, and was buried in Plainville, \Visconsin. Irvin L. died in infancy. Eda is the wife of Dell Foot, a farmer of Jackson township, Adams county. Katie is the wife of Willis Turner, of Oxford, Wisconsin. A. Maxie, born February 16, 1874, was educated in the common and high schools of Augusta, and now has charge of his mother's farm. He is an industrious and temperate young man, and highly respected by all who know him. He was married, May 31, 1899, to Lulu Koss. Edna is the wife of M. Holian, a farmer of Dell Prairie township, Atlams county. WILLIAM CUFF, Dece.\sed. William Cuff, deceased, was for many years one of the most successful farmers of the town of Lowville, and is remembered by many of the older citizens of Columbia county as a man of exceptionally fine char- acter and manly c|ualities. He was born in Somerby, England, February 4, 1830, and 620 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY died ill tlie town of Lowville, August i, 1 89 1. He was a son of James and Mary (Chandler) Cuff. James Cuff' was a miller by tratle and died in England. His widow afterwards came to this state, and died at the home of our subject when over seventy- five years of age. William Cuff learned the miller's trade, and in 1855 sought a home in this country. He spent some two or three years in Toron- to, Canada, where he worked as a miller, and then came to W'isconsin, and made his appearance in Columljia county in 1857. He was here a short time onl}', returning to Wilson, Canada, to run a mill. In i860 he again entered this state, and for a time was in charge of a mill at .Apjileton. On the occasion of his first visit to the state he had bought a ninety-acre farm in Lowville, and to this he presently removed, and devoted the rest of his life to its cultivation and increase. At the time of his death it con- sisted of nearly six hundred acres, partly in Low\ille, and ])artly in the town of De- korra. He had made ample improvements, and was largely interested in stock raising. Mr. Cuff was a Democrat in politics, but never sought or accepted public office of any kind. He was reared as a member of the Episcopal church, but after he came to this county was a regular and devoted at- tendant upon the services of the Presbyterian church. He began life with very little money, but by industry and economy liad amassed a very comfortable fortune years before his demise. He was widely known, and very highly regarded both for his busi- ness ability and integrity of character, winning and holding many sincere friends. He was married May 10, 1857, to Ann Connells, a daughter of Cornelius and Han- nah Connells, of Highland Creek, a small town near Toronto, Canada. The entire family were natives of England, and Mrs. Cuff was brought to Canada when a small child. Her father died in England, and her mother in Canada when about sev- enty years old. Mrs. Cuff was the moth- er of the following named children : Henry died at the age of four years; Martha, now Mrs. Isaac Curtis; William John died at Rio, November 10, 1899, aged thirty-nine years; Mary Margaret is a missionary of the Presbyterian church, and has her home in the city of Wausau, Wisconsin; David Lafayette lives on the home farm; Lillie \'ioletta is Mrs. Fred Henry, of the town of Lowville : James Henry died April 29, 1872. at the age of four years; George Ed- ward Napoleon, born October 6, 1874; Ar- thur Horatio died January 23, 1895, aged twenty-six years ; Charlie Frank died October 26, 1896, at the age of twenty- five years; Maria died in infancy; Hen- rietta EUzabeth is Mrs. Carl Drake, of the town of Lowville; Royal Augustus Chandler is at home. Mrs. Cuff has elev- en grandchildren. She is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rocky Run. Per- sonally she is a lady of marked vigor and industrious habits, and displays remarkable abilit}' in handling the large farm left in her chars'e. JOHN JACOB GATTIKER, Dece.vsed. John Jacob Gattiker, deceased, through forty years of his identification with Sauk county enjo\-s the highest respect of his fellow citizens by reason of his strict in- tegrity, true manhood and intellectual attain- ments. He was a gentleman of refinement and culture, and his deportment was always courteous and kind. His devotion to the pubfic welfare also made him a valued factor in public life, and by his death Baraboo was deprived of one of her best citizens. A por- trait of him appears on another page of this volume. JOHH JACOB GATTIKER. (Deceased.) COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. G23 y Mr. Gattiker was born in Zurich, Swit- zerland, April 1 8, 1826, a son of Henry and Maria M. Gattiker, also natives of Zurich, and representatives of good old Swiss fam- ilies.' The father was a teacher and fol- lowed that profession in Zurich through- out life, dying there when our subject was a young man. In 1871 his widow came to tile new world and died in Baraboo, Wiscon- sin, the same year, at the age of seventy- six. Our subject was given excellent educa- tional ad\antages, and at the age of twenty graduated from a college in Zurich, after which he engaged in teaching for ten years in a gymnasium there, where the languages and higher branches were taught, his special studies being French, mathematics and Italian. Later he was a i)ri\ate tutor in an English family at Chamberi, Italy. In 1855 Mr. Gattiker came to the United States and located on a farm in Honey Creek township, Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he devoted his energies to agricult- ural pursuits for a time. It was not long- before his true worth and ability became known in this county, and in 1858 he was elected county clerk, in which capacity he served for eight years, making his home in Baraboo. He then embarked in the hard- ware business at that place, in company with his brother, A. Gattiker. and enjoyed an ex- tensive trade until he retired from active life in 1886. In May, 1851, Mr. Gattiker wedded Miss Mary Magdalene, daughter of Henry Trun- inger. She was born in Winterthur, Swit- zerland, October 30, 1828, and died in Bara- boo August 3, 1898. Of the six children born to them only three are now living. For th.ree years Mr. Gattiker was afflicted with slow paralysis, and death finally ended his sufferings April 2, 1895. He had led a busy and useful life and was held in the highest esteem by the citizens of Sauk county. He was not identified with any social or re- ligious organization, but took a commendable interest in all worthy public enterprises. In political sentiment he was a stanch Repub- lican and represented Baraboo in the coun- ty board of supervisors for a number of years, serving as chairman of that body two years of this time. He always took an act- ive interest in educational affairs and was chairman of the board of education when the first and second ward school houses were built. WILLIAM I. GALBRAITH. \\'illiam J. (;all)raith. a representati\'e and prominent farmer of New Haven town- ship. Adams county, Wisconsin, was born in Logan county. Ohio, October 2, 1849, and is the third son of William and Eliza ( Woods) Galbraith, natives of the north of Ireland. The father emigrated to America in 1830 and toc4c up his residence in Logan count}', Ohio, where he followed his trade of shoemaking for a time and later en- gaged in farming with marked success. Ir. 1854 he came to Wisconsin and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dodge county, to the improvement and cultiwttion of \\hich he devoted his energies for two years. He then sold that place and mo\ed to Waupaca county, where he took up a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land, but in 1862 he disposed of that property and bought another farm in Lynn township, the same county, which he commenced to clear and imorove. .\t the end of five years he sold out and started for Minnesota in a covered wagon, but on reaching Dividing Ridge he met his brother an.d together they returned to this state. He next purchased what was known as the Old Man Searles farm, just across the line from Adams countv. in Marquette count v. but after residing there for two months he 624 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. traded the jilace fur the Piatt Staples farm on sections i and 2, New Haven township, Adams county. He soon had one hundred acres of the one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract under a high state of cultivation and otherwise improved the farm, hut he finally sold the ]il.ace to his sons, and remi_)\e(l to Portage, where he was working at his trade of shoemaking at the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. Wherever known he was highly esteemed. In early life William J. Galbraith at- tended the common schools near his home, and aided his father m the improvement and cultivation of the home farm. On attain- ing his majority he and his brother, Charles, bought the home place in New Haven town- ship, which they subsequently di\'ided, and t;i his share our subject has added luitil he now has one hundred and eighty acres of land, of which all but fifty acres is now under a high state of cultivation and im- proved with good buildings. He has been prominently identified with the development of this locality, and has ever borne his part in its improvement. He now owns the Stockbridge place, upon which is a log build- ing forty-five years old and still in a good state of preservation. On the loth of October, 1S75, ]\Ir. Gal- braith led to the marriage altar Miss Carrie Smith, who was born in New Haven town- ship, Adams county, Wisconsin, April 5, 1856, a daughter of A. D. and Polly A. (Bennett) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of this state. They located in New Haven township when it was almost an unbroken wilderness and their nearest neigh- bor was six miles away. In the eastern part of the township the father took up a large tract of government land, and the family lived in true pioneer style. Their hospitable home was ever open and many an early set- tler found accommodations with them until they could erect rude dwellings for them- selves. Mrs. Smith used to grind corn in the coffee mill for family use. . Fires had to be kept burning at night to keep the evolves away from the little pigs, and she once had an encounter with a bear, her weapon lieing a butcher knife. Mr. Smith was chosen judge of the county, and all legal questions for miles around were brought to him for settlement. He improved one of the best farms in the county, took an active part in laying out roads and organizing school districts, and was one of the most useful and influential citizens of the com- munity in those early days. He owned four liundred acres of valuable land, and as his fellow citizens placetl in him the utmost confidence, he was ne\'er called upon to give hiis note. He died in New Ha\en town- ship, in June, 1889, and his wife passed away two years later. Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith, five are now living, namely : Edith S., born September 17, 1883; Helen V. G., June 29, 1885; Lee 1\, born August 3, 1889; Julius E., born April 9, 1896; and Carrie J., born June 7, 1899. At the last call of the government for troops during the Civil war, Mr. Galbraith enlisted and served for three months. As a Republican he takes quite an acti\-e interest in. the political affairs of the county, and has ably filled the office of township supervisor. He has held some school offices in his district for twelve consecutive years and has done much toward raising the standard of schools in the community. He is a far-sighted, ener- getic business man and has met with well- merited success in his endeavors. REV. OTTO HENRICH KOCH. Rev. Otto Henrich Koch, pastor of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran church, of Co- lumbus, Wisconsin, has for fifteen years COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. G25 ministered faitlifully to the needs of his peo- ple and given powerful and effective aid to all influences which work for the advance- ment of the communit}'. Revered and loved by his own flock, he has also won the honor and esteem of all others who have seen his devotion to his calling. Mr. Koch was born in Barmenslow, Pomerania, Prussia, September 21, 1854, a son of Gottlieb A. and Regina (Darvitz) Koch, also natives of Germany, where the father followed the miller's trade until 1856, when he brought his family to the new world. For a time he engaged in farming near Watertown, Wisconsin, and later lived in the towns of Arlington and Leeds, Colum- bia county, but is now deceased, having passed away September 4, 1885, at the age of sixty-nine years. He took quite an active and prominent part in public affairs in his native land, and represented his district in the national congress during the revolution of 1848. His estimable wife is still living, at the age of seventy-seven years, and makes her home in Columbus. Otto H. Koch passed his boyhood and youth in this state, and after attending the Northwestern University at Watertown, he entered Concordia Seminary, at Springfield, rUinois, where he was graduated in June, 1878. He at once entered the ministry of the Lutheran church, being ordained Au- gust II, of that year, at Lewiston, Minne- sota, where he had charge of two congrega- tions for six years. Since 1884 he has been pastor of Zion's church at Columbus, Wis- consin, and under his ministry the congre- gation has greatly increased, numbering about eighteen hundred people at the pres- ent time, but these figures, or indeed, any estimate of the material progress give no in- dication of the great work he has done in moulding and shaping to higher issues the lives of those to whom he gives his best thoughts. Li 1887 the church was rebuilt and enlarged and is now a fine modern brick edifice. A handsome and commodious brick ])arsonage was also erected in 1885, and a fine school huuse was built in 1897. 'Sir. Koch also has charge of the parochial school, which numbers one hundred and thirt}- pu- pils, and employs two assistant teachers. A friend of the poor and oppressed, ever ready with helpful counsel for the perplexed or sor- rowful, he has a wide field for labor and well does he discharge its arduous and sacred duties. On the loth of October, 1880, Mr. Koch married Miss Bertha Sander, daughter of Frederick Sander, of Fond du Lac, Wiscon- sin, and they now have a family of five chil- dren : Ada, a graduate of the Columbus high school ; Hugo, a student of the North- western University of Watertown; Esther, a student in Zion's school, Columbus; Otto and Herbert. EDWARD LOUIS LUCKOW. Edward Louis Luckow, publisher of the ''Sauk County Democrat," at Baraboo, and one of the most practical journalists of the state, is one of the native sons of Wiscon- sin, his birth having occurred at West Bend, Washington county, April 27, 1866. His parents were Charles and Johanna (Roen- beck) Luckow. Being a precocious lad, he completed the course at the West Bend high school at the age of fourteen years, but continued his studies as opportunity permitted for several years longer, mastering the German lan- guage in this way without any regular in- struction. He was always industrious and ambitious to improve his condition in life. One of his first occupations after leaving school was that of clerk in a store, but as this business was not congenial to his tastes, he soon abandoned it. 626 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. While still a mere boy lie developed a genius for literary work and contributed reg- ularly to the columns of the "West Bend Democrat," one of the oldest papers in the state, at that time under the management of the well-known "Billy" Walters. He also devoted many of his leisure hours be- fore lea\-ing school to learning tlie printing business, and when he finally became a regu- lar employe of the establishment it required but a few weeks for him to become fore- man of the job department and in a short tmie he took entire charge of the office. Realizing the need of a wider field for the development of his talents, after a few years he left his native village, and secured a ]io- sition in Milwaukee, spending several years in that cit}- and elsewhere. July 9, 1886, he arrived in Baraboo and took charge of the office of the "Sauk Coun- ty Democrat" as foreman and local editor. He soon assumed the entire management of the paper, which was then owned by Kunge & Grotophorst, though the former became sole proprietor soon after Mr. lAickow's arri\al. He conducted the paper in the interest of ]Mr. Runge until February I, 1895, when he purchased the establish- ment. He at once began to improve and re- arrange the office and has fitted it up as a n:odel institution of the kind, demonstrating that a printing office can be kept as neat and orderly as a dry goods store or any other place of business. The "Democrat" is the only newspaper in Sauk county of that po- litical faith and has constantly improved un- der his charge, enjoying at present an ex- tensi\e circulation and advertising patron- age. Personally, Mr. Luckow has always been distinguished for his courteous manners and fair and impartial treatment of everyone with whom he comes in contact. Wherever employed he was always noted for his de- votion to the interests of his employers, and i;pon Ijecoming ))roprietor of this paper he received a number of very complimentary and congratulatory letters from noted jour- nalists with whom he had been associated. He has always taken a lively interest in the Wisconsin Press Association, which he has served as vice-president and in other offi- cial capacities. He has been several times a delegate to the National Press Association, and in 1897 was elected a member of the ex- ecutive committee of that organization. He was recently appointed to prepare a history of the Sauk County Press for embodiment ii! the histor)' of the W'isconsin press. For many years he has filled the position of cor- respondent for a number of city papers and still officiates in that capacity for several of the leading j(jurnals of the United States. In the spring of 1900 Mr. Luckow was elected mayor of the city of Baraboo, beat- ing his opponent by one hundred and nine- teen votes, although the city is strongly Re- publican. In the fall of 1890 he was the Democratic candidate for congressman for the third district of W^isconsin. HENRY N. OLSON. No foreign element has become a more important part of our American citizenship than that furnished by Sweden. The emi- grants from that land have brought with them to the new world the stability, enter- prise and perseverance characteristic of their people and have fused these qualities with the progressiveness and indomitable spirit of the w^est. Mr. Olson, of Mars, Adams county, Wisconsin, is a worthy representa- tive of this class. He was born in JMalmo, Sweden, Feb- ruary 21, 1845, and was educated in the Latin school at that place. During his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, which. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 627 lie cnutinued to follow until coming to America at the age of twenty-two years. He firs.t located at Rockford, Illinois, where he worked at his trade mitil 1870, when he entered the employ of Harrison & Green, bridge contractors, and continued with them for six years in the capacity of timekeeper and foreman, laying out the work for the men. When he retired from raih'oad bridge buikling, he engaged in contracting and building on his own account in Milwaukee, Avhere he erected over three hundred houses which are still standing. He possesses ex- cellent ability in mechanical lines and has had a varied experience. As a skillful painter he has worked in a street car shop, doing the finest work in painting and letter- ing, and while there he invented a wheel scraper, which is now patented and in gen- eral use. On lea\'ing the employ of that company he returned to railroad bridge huilding. He is also a skilled iron worker and in many parts of Adams county ma}- be found manifestations of his handiwork. In 1868 Mr. Olson came to Adams coun- ty, and purchased a tract of lanil near Twin Valley, which he afterward sold, bnt re- purchased again in partnership with Mason Peterson, and is still actively identified with i)idustrial interests. His support is never \'.ithheld from any enterprise calculated to pro\-e of public benefit, and although he has ne\er been an office seeker, he takes an act- ive interest in political affairs. He merits and receives the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. ALBERT WEBSTER FOSTER. Albert Webster Foster, a successful lo- comoti\e engineer, who has been a resident of Baraboo, Wisconsin, for more than half a century, and is one of its highly-respected citizens, was born in Barre, Orleans county. New York. March 11, 1844, a son of Ira and Amanda (Norton) Foster. The father was a native of Ohio, and when a young man went to New York. In 1S44 he cam^ to Wisconsin and first located on a farm at Delavan, and four years later came to Bara- boo, where he died in January, 1850, at the age of forty-one years. His wife, who was a native of Chautaucjua county, New York, died in Baraboo, in 1889, at the age of eighty-seven years. Her father was of English lineage and a farmer by occupation. Three of her brothers were soldiers in the war of 1812. Our subject is the youngest in a familv of six children, five sons and one daughter, the others being Elma, deceased wife of O. B. Hubbard ; Elvin, who died in Baraboo ; Charles, who was killed by light- ning at Pikes Peak, Colorado, in 1867; Rollin A., a resident of Winona, Minnesota; and William, who died in Baraboo, in 1864. Albert ^^^ Foster was four years old when brought by his parents to Baraboo, and upon the home farm near that city he made his home until twenty years of age, aiding iri its operation and working in a saw-mill a part of the time. In 1865 he made a trip to Pikes Peak, where he spent one year in freighting to the mines, and on his re- turn to Baraboo engaged in various pur- suits until 1876, when he became night baggageman at that place for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. Three years later he entered the train service as a fireman and since 1882 has had charge of a locomotive, for the past year running a time freight between Baraboo and Milwaukee. He has invested to some extent in real es- tate in \\'inona, Minnesota, and is now quite well-to-do. On the i_nh of September, 1889, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Geeslim, a native of Mohawk, Her- kimer county, New York, where her par- ents, Timothy and Lucy Hess, were also 628 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. born. In 1865 the Hess family moved to Minnesota and settled near \\^inona, where the father died in 1889, the mother in 1874. Mr. Foster is a prominent member of Division No. 76, B. of L. E., at Baraboo, of which he has been chaplain for the past five years, and is a member of Baraboo Lodge, F. & A. M., and Baraboo Valley Chapter, R. A. M., while he and his wife both belong to the Order of the Eastern Star, and she is also a member of the La- dies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Lo- comotix'e Engineers. Mr. Foster has always affiliated with the Republican party, but aside fnun \oting he takes no active part in political affairs. He is widely and fa- vorably known, and those who are most in- timatel)- acquainted with him are numbered among his warmest friends. CHARLES AUGUST COLONIUS. Charles August Colonius, ex-treasurer of C(jlumbia county. There is no element which has entered into our composite na- tional fabric, which has been of more prac- tical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Germany, and in the prog- ress of our Union this element has played an imi)ortant part. Intensely practical, and ever having a clear comprehension of the ethics of life, the German contingent has wielded a powerful influence, and this serv- ice cannot lie held in liglit estimation by those who appreciate true civilization and true advancement. One of the most influen- tial German-American citizens of Columbia county is C. A. Colonius, of Portage, who has lieen prominently identified with its busi- ness and political interests for some years. He was born in \\'.'echters1jach, province of Hesse-Xassau, Germany, April 13, 1836. a son of George Christian and Johanna (Weber) Colonius. The original home of the family was at St. Goarshausen on the Rhine, where the ruins of Colonius castle are still seen, and representatives of the fam- ily still reside there. The grandfather and several other ancestors of our subject were ministers of the Reformed church. The fa- ther was Ixirn January 26, 1785, in Hohen- solms, province of Wetzlar, Rhenish Prus- sia, and spent the most of his life as a ober kammerrath (chief oiTicer) under the Prus- sian go\-ernment at W'aechtersbach, ha\'ing super\'ision o\-er a considerable tract of country. He died April 9, i860. His wife was a native of the erand duchy of Hesse and was a sister of George Weber, who held a government position, as conservator or treasurer at Buedingen. Our subject is one of a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, the others being as follows : Henry, who came to the United States in 1849, was judge of Jeft'erson county, Wis- consin, for fi\'e terms, or twenty }'ears, and there died in August, 1896; George died in German}- ; and Maria is now Mrs. Will- iam Van Carlshausen, of Alten-Hasslau, province of Hesse-Nassau, Germany. Charles A. Colonius, of this review, re- ceived a good classical education in a gym- nasium at Buedingen, and remained in his nati\e land until nineteen years of age. In May, 1854, he sailed for the new wxirld and spent five years in the regular army under General Sidney A. Johnston and General Harney, in this country, returning to Ger- many at the end of that time on account of the death of his father. On again coming to America, in 1862, he located at Watertown, Wisconsin, where he enlisted the following spring in Company K, Third ^^'isconsin Cavalry, which was employed in scuuting and skirmishing with Generals Price and Marmaduke's forces in .\rkansas until the close of the war. Though in many pre- COMPBXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. (329 carious positions he fortunately escaped un- Wdundeil. Aftei" the war Mr. L'nlnnius. carried on a commission Inisiness in W'atertown for a time, and in tlie winter of 1867-68 located at Columl)us, Wisconsin, where lie was em- ])loyed as clerk in a general store for sev- eral years. In June, 1874. he became a ]iart- ner in tlie mercantile firm of George Linck & Company, with which he was connected until December, 1880. In the meantime he liad served as alderman and city treasurer of Columbus, resioning the latter office on hiis removal to Portage in January, 1881, to assume the duties of county treasurer, to which position he had been elected the jjre- vious fall. Here he has since made his home, and for four terms, or eight vears, he served as countv treasurer, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Afterward he was agent for the Northern Pacific Express Company at this place. In 1890 he was one of the incor- porators of the First National Bank, of Portage, and served as assistant cashier until January, 1898, when he retired from active business, although he is still a director of the bank, which is one of the leading finan- cial institutions in the county. In 1866 Mr. Colonius married Miss Jo- sephine Brucher, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Brucher, of Elba, Dodge county, Wisconsin. The father died in that county in 1857, at the age of sixty-nine years, the mother in 1870, at the age of seventy. Mrs. Colonius was born in St. Wendel, Rhenish Prussia, and came with her family to Amer- ica in 1847. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of five children, but four died in infancy, the other survivor being Jessamine May. The family are connected Avitli the Methodist Episcopal church, of which j\Ir. Colonius is a trustee. In the summer of 1892, with his wife and daugh- ter, he made a trip to Germany, and spent several months in \-isiting the birthplace of himself and Mrs. Colonius, as well as other points of interest. He was somewhat sur- prised to note the rapid development of the mining and manufacturing industries in and around his nati\e ]>]ace, by which the same had been transformed from an agricultural region into a field of commercial activity. Socially he is a member of Columbus Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M. ; Fort \\'innebago Chap- ter, No. 14. R. A. M. : Fort \\'innebago Commantlery. Xo. 4. K. T. : and Bethlehem Chapter, Xo. 100, O. E. S., at Portage, which he and his wife assisted in organiz- ing. Since casting' his first presidential \'ote for Lincoln, in i860, he has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and lie- sides filling the oflices already mentioned, he iias served as a member of the school board of Portage since 1894, and as its presi- dent since 1895. As a citizen he meets every requirement and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the welfare of his adopted city and county in any line. Mr. Colonius is a member of Rousseau Post, No. 14. Ci. A. R., of Portage. EZRA WILSON, Deceased. Ezra W'ilson, deceased, was for many years a- highly esteemed and honored citizen ef Richfield township, Adams county, \\"is- consin, his home being on section 2, where his widow still resides. He was born in W^yoming county. Pennsyh-ania, August 8, 1826, and first came to Adams county, this state, in 1872, but after living here awhile he removed to Green Lake county, and did not return to Adams county until 1880. In early life he worked at the carpenter's and millwrght's trades, but devoted his last years to farming, owning and operating one hun- dred and forty-five acres on section 2, Rich- field township. 630 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ]\Ir. Wilson was twice married, his first wife lieing Aliss Jemima Sciiooly, of Penn- sylvania, who died in Dartfijrd. Green Lake county, ^\'isconsin, Decemloer 27, 1869. V>y that union nine children were horn, namely: William; Jennie, Avife of J(3hn Brooks, of Junction Cit}', Portage county, ^Visconsin ; jMark, who married Irene Allen and \\\cs ii' Georgia; La\-ina, wife of John Banker, r,f Berlin, Wisconsin ; Lois ; \\'alter, who mar- ried \'ii_ila Da\-3', and is also a resident of Berlin; Charlie; and Emma, wife of Frank Leach, of Adams county. On the 23d of January, 1S74, at Green Bay, \\ isconsin, Air. A\'ilson married Miss Sarah Linch. who was born in Orange cijun- ty. Xew York, May 17, 1S56. and came to Green Lake county. \\'isconsin, in 1868, with her parents, Aaron and Sarah (Baird) Linch. The father, who is a farmer by occupation, is still a resident of that county. He ser\'ed for three months as a soldier i->f the Civil war at the l)eginning (jf that con- flict. His children are ]\Iary C, wife of Joseph Taylor, of Dartford, Green Lake count}-; Angeline. wife of John Hubert, of South Dakota; Martha A., wife of U'illiam Wilson, (jf Antigo, Langlade county, Wis- consin; Joseph, who married Eva Collen, and lives in Illinois; Dwight, who married Sarah B. Wilson, and makes his home in Dartford, Wisconsin; Sarah, widow of Ezra Wilson, oiu- su1)ject; WiUiam H. ; Cassie, wife of a ^Ir. Davis, of Columbus, Wiscon- sin ; Benjamin, who wedded ]\Iary Otto, and lives in Rush Lake, Green Lake county; Jo- siah, who married Lillie Bradley and re- sides in Dartford; and Lizzie, wife of Willis Bonnell, of Dartford. By his seci.md mar- riage our subject had two s(.)ns : Lorenzo; and Orin O., who married Lax-ina Labrence and li\-es at home, where he owns twenty-fi\'e acres of land. ^Jr. Wilson was a soldier of the Cix'il war, enlistiup' at Madison, Wisconsin, in Company I, Thirty-first W^isconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and in later years he was an honored member of Tom Eubank Post, No. 150, G. A. R.. at Plancock, Wisconsin. He v.as well and favorably known and was just- ly entitled to the high regard in which he v.-as held by his fellow citizens aufl by all w ho knew him, for he led an upright, honor- able life, and was true to every trust reposed in him. Mrs. \Vilson was a member of the Relief Corps at Llancock. JAMES C. M.\cKENZIE. James C. MacKenzie, Portage, Wiscon- sin, is a son of old Columbia county, and is the newly-elected sheriff of the county. He, although a comparatively young man, has already made his mark in the world and is already known as a very shrewd Ijusiness man and a very popular citizen. He was born October 19, 1864, and his father, Hon. John MacKenzie, a nati\-e of Scotland, came to this country in 1S48. He lived for a short time in Racine, and came to Columbia county the following year. Here he was a farmer for a time, and then became a miller at DeKorra, where he bought an extensive milling plant, which has made that name quite famous. It was the first in this part of the state. He carried it on until his death in May, 1892, and the business has since been continued hv mem- bers of the family. The father was a man o: ability, and in politics was an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party, being elected by that organization to the state legislature in 1883. His wife was Mary Wilson in her maidenhood, and her father, James Wilson, was a pioneer settler of Columbia county. She is still living on the old homestead. James C. MacKenzie is the third in a familv of eight children, and was educated JAHES C. MACKEHZIE. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. m% ill the ccmimon schools, and also at t1ie Povnette high school. His Inisiiiess life be- gan as a salesman for the DeKorra mill. He continued in this capacity un- til he had reachetl his twenty-third 3ear. For the last thirteen years he has lieeu engaged in the hotel business at Portage. Politically lie has always been a Kepulili can, and fur many years lie has taken acti\e interest in the work of the party in this county. His standing in the party is at- tested by the fact that he was chosen on the second ballot at the county conyention of August 19, 1900, for the Republican nom- ination as sheriff, out of a list of ft\e good rnen Ijefore that bod}-, and was elected No- vember, of the same year, b}' a yjlurality of two thousand six hundred and forty-one, the largest ever giyen ftir a county officer in Columbia county. Mr. ]\IacKenzie and Miss Anna J. Bug- lass, of IMauston, Wisconsin, were married November 23, 1897. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and has been commander of the Portage Tent, N(3. 122, since its organization. He is also a mem- ber of the .\ncient Order of United ^\'ork- men, and the ^Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. He is yice-]3resident of the local as- sembly of the Equitable Fraternal Union. Mr. MacKenzie has hati excellent Ijusi- ness training and from that and the well- kno\yn sterling integrity and well-directed energ}- of purpose that are his leading char- acteristics, it is confidently expectetl that he will fill the responsible office of sheriff, to which he has just been chosen, in a nianner tn his credit and the satisfacti(Mi of the electors of the county. The majority of the people of Columbia county are con- gratulating themselves that so able and hon- est a man has been chosen to fill the office. A portrait of Mr. MacKenzie adorns one of the pages of this volume, and will be wel- comed l)v a large circle of friends. CHARLES BAKER. Charles Baker, of Portage, is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves by reason of his industrious efforts of former years. Accomplishment and progress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few. He is now one of the highly respected citizens of Portage, and his long residence in Columbia county and the active part he has taken in its develop- ment will entitle him to representation in its history. Mr. Baker was born in Polsam, parish of Wells, Somersetshire, England, June 14, 1823, a son of William and Joanna (Emery) Baker. The father, who spent his entire life on a farm in Polsam and w-as extensively engaged in dairying, died in 1827, aged for- ty-one years, the mother in 1836, aged fifty- six years. 1 hev left a family of nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters, namely : Harriet; Elizabeth; George; William; Caro- line, widow of James Chancellor, a resident of Portage ; Jose^ih ; Charles ; Royhood and youth of our subject was spent upon a farm in his native state, and his education was accjuired in its public schools. .\t the age of sixteen years he be- gan to support himself as a farm hand, and on leaving home in ths spring of 1855 came to Rock county, Wirconsin, where he spent two years. From there he came to Sauk county and purchased a farm of one hun- dred acres in Winfield township, which at that time was all wild land, over which tht plowshare had never passed. He clearetl, improved and cultivated the place for twenty years, and then exchanged it for his present farm of one hundred and seventy acres in the same township. This is divided into highly-cultivated fields, rich pastures and timberland, and is well adapted to stock rais- ing, his specialty being the breeding of Hambletonian and Wilkes horses. Just after completing a fine farm house upon his place, in 1884, a cyclone swept over the farm, demolishing his residence and other buildings, together with twenty acres of wheat in shock, only three loads of the same being saved. Notwithstanding this mis- fortune he has steadily prospered in his new liome and has a well-improved farm, which lias been acquired through his own well- directed efforts and good management, for he arrived in Reedsburg with onlv twentv- five cents in his pocket, though he had paid fifty dollars upon his land prior to coming hither. On the i6th of February, 1857, ]\Ir. Davis was united in marriage with Ivliss Eliza Ann Seymour, a native of the town of Florence, Oneida county. New York, and a daughter of Ransom and Mary C. (Ran- som) Seymour. The father, a -carpenter by trade, was born in Winsted, Connecticut, June 9, 1804, and died in Lewis county, New York, May 27, 1845. His parents were Abel and Nancy (Humiston) Seymour, who died in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, at a ripe old age. He had a female relative who was shot by the Indians during the Revolutionary war. The children born to our subject and his wife were: John R., now a bookkeeper in a large feed dealing establishment in Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and Inez Adell, who died April 24, 1879, aged eight years. Mrs. Davis is a most estimable lady and a consistent member of the Baptist church. Since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, Mr. Da\'is has been an ardent sup- porter of the Repul.)lican party, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He is well known and receives and merits the esteem of his many friends and acquaintances. HENRY A. FIELD. More than forty- four years have passed since this gentleman arri\'ed in Wisconsin, and he is justly numbered among the hon- ored pioneers and leading citizens of .\dams county. He was prominently identified with her agricultural interests for many years, but is now living retired on his pleasant farm in Dell Prairie township, near Kil- l)(>iu"n Citv. His is an honorable record of a conscientious man, who by his upright COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. G49 lite has won the cuntideiice of all with win mi he has come in contact. Mr. Field was hcjrn in Chester. Windsor county, Vermont, March 26, 1821, and springing from good New England stock, he possesses the indomitable energy and per- severance which have e\er characterizetl the people of that localitv, ami ndw in his de- clining years he is able to enjuy the well- merited reward of an industrious life. He is the onl\- son of James antl Mehitable (Thurston) Field, thrift}- and prosperous farmers of Windsor county, A'crnnmt, where they spent the greater part of the'r l;\es. The father died in Chester, that county, in 1850, and his widow afterward came to make her home with our subject in Adams county. Wisconsin, where she died at the advanced age of ninety-four years, being laid to rest in the Plainville cemetery. During his boyhood and vouth Ileiuw A. Field was employed on the home farm during the summer season, while through the winter months he attended the district schools, where he accjuired a good practical education. At the age of twenty-one, being the only son, he assumed the entire control of the farm, which he carried on until 1855. Being convinced that better opportunities awaited men of enterprise and intelligence in the rapidly developing west, he then came to the frontier of \\'isconsin and invested in land at Plain\il]e. He made his home at that place for a number of years, while he dealt to a considerable extent in wild lands. In 1866 he purchased the farm (near the village of Kilbourn) in Dell Prairie township, Adams county, which has since been his home. He is now the owner of about five hundred acres of good land in that township, well equipped with modern farm buildings, including a very commodi- ous and comfortable residence, where he is now li\-ing retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil. On the /th of February. 1850. JMr. Field was united in marriage with Miss 01i\e T. Thurston, who was born in St. Lawrence county, X'ew York, and died No- vember 7, 1 89 1, at the age of sixty-four years, her remains being interred in Plain- ville cemetery. Her parents, John and Olive (Greeley) Thurston, were nati\'es of Chester, Vermont, and the mother was a representative of the same family as the illus- trious Horace Greeley. To Mr. and ^Mrs. Field were born three sons, of whom one died in infancy: Floyd A., born .Vugust 3, 185S, is now a well-known business man of Kilbourn; and George H., born January Ji, i860, resides on the homestead farm. He married Mary A. Paine March 17, 1886, of Kilbourn. She died February, 1900. Although nearly four score years have passed over his head, Mr. Field still enjoys excellent health and is remarkalily vigorous both in body and mind. A Republican in principle, he has given little heed to the distribution of political honors and his only official service has been in the capacity of as- sessor for Dell Prairie township, which po- sition he most acceptably filled for a period of twent\' years. His successful career is the natural consecjuence of industrious and prudent habits when accompanied by discre- tion and integrity of purpose, and the his- tory of his life afi^ords an example Avorth}- the emulation of rising generations. \MLLL\M JONES EDWARDS. William Jones Edwards, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a worth}' rep- resentative of the agricultural interests of Columbia county, now makes his home in Portage. His early life was spent u]ion the other side of the Atlantic, being born in Dyfrun, Merionethshire, Wales. January r6, 184,^ His father. Captain William Ed- wards, went to sea when a bo\'. and tinalU' 650 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Ijecame commander of a bi'ig engaged in the coasting trade between Wales and Ire- land. On coming to the United States in 1849, li*^ located on a farm in Caledonia townsliip. Columbia county, Wisconsin, antl turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. There he died about 1875. at the age of sixty-three years. He was active in support of public schools, and ser\-ed as an iifficer in his district for a number of years. In early life he married Susanna Jones, also a nati\e of Dyfrun, and a daughter of John Jones, a farmer who lived and died in JNIerionethshire, Wales. Our subject's pa- ternal grandfather, Edward Edwards, was also a farmer l\v occupation, and a lifelong- resident of \\'ales. Mrs. Susanna Edwards died in P(jrtage, Wisconsin, in September, 189S, at the age of eighty-eight years. She was the mother of five children : Edward, who died in boyhood; (jwen, wife of Evan R. Evans, of Racine, Wisconsin ; John, who died in boyhood; William J., our subject; and Robert, a resident of Portage. \\ illiam J. Edwards was only six years old on the emigration of the familv to America, and attended school more or less regularly in Columbia county, his ser\-ices being needed on the home farm after the death of his two older brothers. In Au- gust, 1862, he joined the boys in blue of Company C, Twenty-third Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the department of the Gulf. From JNIemphis the regiment went to Haines Blufif, taking part in. the engagement at that place, and from there went to Arkansas Post. For forty- se\-en davs they partici]Mted in the siege of ^''icksburg, were also in the siege of Jack- son, Mississippi, and later went to Xcw Or- leans, where thev joined (jeneral Banks' Red river expedition. On their return the\' were in camp at Baton Rouge iov a time, and then proceeded to Mobile, aiding in the capture of Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, Span- ish Fort and Fort Blakeley. They were at the last named place at the time of Lee's surrender. During the Red river campaign Mr. Edwards was slightU- wounded in the left arm by a spent ball. He took [lart in fourteen battles, and was constantly in act- 'i\-e service with his comjiany for nearly three years, when the war ended and he was honorably discharged at Moljile, Ala- bama, July 4, 1865. Returning home Mr. Edwards resumed farming in Caledonia township, where he still owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 17, 20 and 21, but since 1897 has made his home in Portage. During the summer season he is employed as a bridge tender by the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railroad Company. In June, 1870, Mr. Edwards was united in. marriage with Miss Mary Owens, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Rob- erts) Owens, and a native of Schuyler, Her- khner county. New York, her parents having come from Wales and resided in the Empire state for a number of years. In 1853 they came to Caledonia township, Columbus county, Wisconsin, where the father died u few 3'ears later, and where the mother, also, died after survi\-ing him some years. Her mother, Mrs. Gwen Roberts, died in New \ork, at the age of eighty-one years. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed- wards, three died in infancy. Those liv- ing are : Thomas, a carpenter of Baraboo, Wisconsin; and Susan. Mr. Edwards is a deacon of the Baptist church at Portage, with which all the family are connected, and he is also a member of Rousseau Post, G. A. R., in which he has served as junior vice-commander. Politically he has always affiliated with the Republican party, but has never been an active politician. He has been found true to every trust re- posed in him, and in days of peace as in time of war is loyal to his adopted country. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 651 WILLIA:\[ BRIi\FMI':R. \\'isconsin is indebted ti) Ciermany fur much i)f lier proo-ress, imt nnly in the arts and sciences, hut in lier material growth and des'elopment. W'ilham Urimmer, wiiose valualile estate, situated in Spi"in,t;\'ille town- ship, Adams county, lias furnished to the community in which he ,li\es an example of Avholesome thrift and honest industry, and of its results even in a countrv to \\hich he came a stranger, without mean.s. Wlilliam Brimmer was born in Silesia, Germany, March 7, 1838, the son of Gott- fried and Mary (Menzel) Brimmer. Gott- fried Brimmer was a wagon-maker Ijy trade, and died in Germany. His father, Gott- fried Brimmer, lived in Barsdorf, and fol- lowed the trade of a tailor. \\^!lliam Brim- n?er attended school in his natixe land un- til he was fourteen years of age, and then for two years worked for a farmer. After this he learned the trade of milhvrigh.t, and worked at it for about ten years. He then served in the German army, in the light ar- tillery, taking part in the Holstein war in 1864 and the Austrian war in 1866, and did go(_id and very hea\-}" service. In June, i8')7, Mr. B>rimmer came to the United States, and first located at ^Vauke- sha, \\'isc6nsin. Not being alile to obtain work at his trade, he did farm work f(_)r one year. He then went to Chicago, where he w-orked at his trade of millwright iuitil 1881. In the meantime he had, during the great fire in Chicago, lost a new house and valu- able furniture, all the property he possessed in the world. In 1881 he came to Adams county and secirred some property in Spring- ville township, where he has since resided. He now owns a farm ijf about two hun- dred and eighty acres, well cultivated, and enhanced by v^aluable improvements and con- veniences for the proper conduct of modern farming. He is engaged in the raising of grain and stock, and has made a success of it. He has in the past kept bees, and his apiary has been a source of profit. The se- vere cold of the winter of 189S-99, however, killed them. Mr. Brimmer was married in June, 1S65, to Christine Strum, of Berlin, Germany. To this unido(l of his fellow men. JOHN FRANKLIN STREETER. John Franklin Streeter, the wide-awake and aggressive publisher of the Cambria "News," is regarded as one of the success- ful newspaper men of Columbia count}', and he has come to his jircsent standing through h.ard work and fair ])Ia}' with his comj^eti- tors. He was born near Ijelvidere, Illinois, Juh^ 22, 1841), and is a son of KainX and 652 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Catherine (Van Arnian) Streeter. His fa- ther was a native of Connecticut, and was de- scended from an early colonial family, which found its first location in Massachusetts. The name was originally spelled Straater He learned the trade of wheelwright, and worked at it for man\- years throughout Ohio and IlUnois. In fullowing his trade he was unduly exposed, contracted a fatal illness, and died at Newburg, Boone county, Illinois, in 1853, when about forty years old His wife suryiyed many years, and died in Kilbourn, Wisconsin, in 1879, when almost eighty. Her father, John Van Arman, served in the war of 1812, and took part in the battle of Plattsburg and several other engagements. He was a shoemaker by trade, and also followed farming. His father, Peter Van Arman, was an officer in the Revolution, and bore himself well and valiantly in the struggle for independence. His ancestors came from Holland. The Van Arman family is noted for its unusual longevity of life. J. F. Streeter left home when eight years of age, and went to live with his brother-in- law, Andrew Bergstresser, at Kilbourn City, where he grew to manhood. He attended public school, and completed the English course at Point Bluff Institute when only eighteen. Leaving school, he entered the office of the "Kilbourn Mirror,'" to learn the printer's trade. He became master of his craft, and as a journeyman printer found em- ployment at New Lisbon, Sparta, LaCrosse, and other points in Wisconsm. Li 1872 he engaged in the publication of the "Journal," at Waterloo, Wisconsin, which had lieen es- tablished six months earlier. He was at Waterloo some two years, and then closing out he went to Chicago to work at his trade for some months. He was publisher of the "Times" at Ottawa, Illinois, and later of the "Evening Journal," with a bi-weekly special, the "Advertiser," at the same place. Altogether he spent seven years in Ottawa, and for a part of this time was city editor of the "Free Trader." Later on he pub- lished the "\\'hiteside Times," with daily and weekly editions, at Sterling, Ihinois. For some years he was in the office of the "Evening Wisconsin," at Milwaukee, and left the Cream City to take the position of foreman and city editor of the "Chronicle," at Dodgeville, where he eventually published the "Star." In that cit\- he also conducted a job-printing office for some ten years. After this he Ixiught and published the "Monitor" at Montfort, Wisconsin. In June, 1893, lie became local editor of the "Daily Democrat" at Portage. He was in Portage only a short time before he leased the office of the "News" at Cambria, and the next year he bought the entire plant, and has been busy at this point ever since. He has an extensive patronage as a job printer, and is on the highway to success. F'or some years past he has been a Republi- can, and in the sjiring of 1900 was a dele- gate to the congressional convention at Watertown. He is a member of the Meth- odist church, and stands well in the com- munity. In Januar}-, 1872, he was married to Ernestine, a daughter of Carl Buth, of Watertown. She was born near Stettin, Germany, but spent the greater part of her life in Watertown. DANA DANIEL BILLINGS, Deceased. Dana Daniel Billings, deceased, who during his life was a prominent member of the farming community of Springville township, Adams county, was proprietur of a pleasant estate in that vicinity for more tlian thirty years, and had gained a cnm- petence which- was sufficient to allow him to live in ease during his declining 3ears COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 653 and leave liis family with all the comforts of life. Mr. Billing's was born in Barnard, Wind- sor county, Vermont, September 9, 1823, and was the son of Daniel Billings, a native of the same place, who was an agriculturist by occupation, and passed his life in his na- tive state. Our subject has made good use of the somewhat limited advantages of the times toward gaining an education, and became well educated. Until he reached his ma- jority he worked with his father on the farm, and became a thorough husbandman. He went to Wisconsin from Vermont in 1851, and located in Springvilie township, Adams county, taking one hundred and sixty acres of government land. He worked hard to clear the land and support his family, and how well he succeeded the estate which is now in possession of the widow bears evi- dence. He had about fifty acres under a high state of cultivation, and had erected substantial buildings, and otherwise im- proved his property. He also run a ferry across the Wisconsin river, the first one run in that vicinity, and the only one op- erated there for many years, and large num- bers of immigrants crossing the river for points in Minnesota and the west took ad- vantage of that means for crossing the stream. Mr. Billings was married September 9, 1853, to Annette Teed, daughter of Na- thaniel K. and Susan (Chamberlain) Teed, of Tompkins, Delaware county. New York. Mrs. Billings' parents were of old English stock, and came west in 1851. After pros- pecting through Walworth, Sauk and Adams counties, they decided to locate in the latter, which they did about 1856, and remained there about seven years. They moved to Bear Creek, Waupaca county, remaining there during the remainder of their lives. The father died in February, 1884, and his wife survived him five years, passing away April 3, 1889, and both were buried at Bear Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Billings were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living : Melvin N., born July 26, 1854, now resid- ing on the old homestead; Dana A., born January 5, 1856, now residing in Spring- vilie; Edward E., born March 4, 1858. died November 11, 1892; Joseph D., born Sep- tember 20, i860, now in Kokomo, Colorado; Emma J., born December 24, 1862, now Mrs. C. Walker, of Plainville; Ora D., born January 16, 1867, now a resident of Wood county, Wisconsin; Charles L., born May 23, 1869, now employed as bridgeman on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road: \\'illie J., born December 12, 1871, now an agriculturist of Spalding, Minne- sota; Lillian L., born January 29, 1875. now Mrs. L. Harris, of White Creek; and Homer E., bom July 8, 1878, now residing at home. Mr. Billings passed from this life November 15, 1882, and is buried at Olin cemetery. He was a prominent man in his township, and served as treasurer of his township for a number of years, and in vari- ous other ofiicial positions, includine school offices. He was an enthusiastic worker in educational matters, and did everything to advance the standard of education in his community. He was a Republican in po- litical sentiment, but did not take an active part in politics. He commanded the respect of his fellow men wherever he was known, and in his death the community lost a good citizen and stanch friend. His widow sur- vives him, and resides on the old homestead. She is in the enjoyment of good health, and appreciates the competence which is hers to tide her through lier declining years, and in the accumulation of which she is justly entitled to much credit, for her words of counsel and cheer tlirough the struggles of the early life in the Wisconsin home. 654 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY HEXRY D. PAGE. Henry D. Page, formerly of Baraboo, who has been pii lionored and trusted em- ploye of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road Company for nearly forty years, was born in Malone, Franklin county. New York, December i6, 1848, a son of Tyloses and Cor- nelia (Nolan) Page. The father was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were emigrating to the United States. The fam- ily settled in Franklin county. New York, where he grew to manhood, and in that state he learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1858 he removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he conducted a shoe store for a time, and then went to Fond du Lac, this state, but is now living retired in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. His estimaljle wife, who was born in Connecticut, died in ^^'alnut Grove. Min- nesota. January J4. 1894, at the age of sev- enty-six. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Wisconsin, and at the age of eleven years entered the emploj-e of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company £s an apprentice in their machine shops at Fond du Lac. Before he reached his eight- eenth year he took charge of an engine on the ^^'inona & St. Peter division and served the company in the capacity of engineer for eight years. During tlie winter of 1870-71 he was on an engine on the Northern Pacific Railroad and in the fall of the latter year ■was transferred to Harvard, Illinois, running a train for several months between Chicago and Baraboo. Later he returned to the Winona & St. Peter division, and in 1876 became foreman of the shops at Winona, Minnesota, but in December of the following }ear accepted the position of foreman of the shops at Harvard, Illinois. On the Qtli of August, 1883, he was appointed master me- chanic of the Madison division, with head- quarters at Baraboo, where he remained im- til transferred. He had charge of five hun- dred sixteen miles of railroad; had an av- erage of one hundred thirty men working under him in the shops, and about three hun- dred train men. His practical knowledge of all the details of his business, as well as his acquaintance with men, renders him a most valuable employe, as is evidenced by his long continuance in so important a position with one of the leading railroad companies of the Union. On the 24th of November, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Air. Page and Miss Louisa Bunnell, who was the first white child born in La Crosse county, Wiscon- sin, a daughter of \\'illard and Matilda Bunnell, of Winona. [Minnesota. The fa- ther, who is a son of Dr. John Bradley Bun- nell, was born in Rochester, New York, and is a pioneer of Winona, Minnesota, where for many vears he served as an Indian fur trader and later kept a wood yard. His wife was born in Detroit. Michigan. ]Mr. and Mrs. Page have two children: Henry \\ ill- ard. born August 23, 1879; and Grace Louise, born April 21. 1882. The family is connected with the [Methodist church and is held in high regard by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. [Mr. Page is an honored memlier of Cream City Di- vision, No. 66, B. of L. E.. [Milwaukee; Prairie L(xlge, No. 7, I. O. O. F.. of Wi- nona; and a charter member of Devil's Lake Camp, No. 390, [M. W. .\., of Baraljoo. He is a Republican in principle but has neither time nor inclination for political agitation. In 1896 he erected a fine residence in Bara- boo. WALLACE THOMPSON. Wallace Thompson, a leading citizen' of Adams county, Wisconsin, residing in Dell Prairie township, may well be classed among COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 655 the pioneers of the county, as he has lived there since he was sixteen years of age. ]\Jr. Thompson was born in Delaware county, New York, June 2, 1840, the son cf AIanst)n and Sallie (Rachenbach) Thompson. His mother died in Delaware county when our subject was but three years old, and the father, who was a farmer, came to Wisconsin, locating in Adams county, April 14, 1856. He did -not long survive, however, his death occurring in May, i860. He "was buried in Dell Prairie. Wallace Th(.impsi m was reared on a farm and received the hmited acK'antages of the common schools, though he was compelled to work the greater part of the time. He ac- companied his father to Wisconsin when he was sixteen years old, and during the sum- mer months worked at home on the farm, and during the winter months worked in the pineries. He was also engaged in raft- ing logs on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. He followed this calling from 1857 until 1861. In the latter year he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and saw all the hard service that fell to the lot of that corps. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Pumpkin \'ine Creek, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and numerous lesser engagements. He was wounded at Chickamauga September 19, 1863, and was sent to the hospital. He was again wounded at Kenesaw Mountain June 30, 1864, and was honorably discharged at Milwaukee in October, 1864, and in the following February (1865) re-enlisted in the United States Veteran Reserve Corps. He was sent to Washington, D. C, and thence to Indianapolis, where he was mus- tered out in February, 1866. Mr. Thompson was married April 9, 1867, to Sabra P., daughter of Martin and Adaline (Salisbury) Solomon. Mrs. Solo- mon was born in 1842 in New York, and came with her parents to Wisconsin when she was se\-en years of age, locating in Jef- ferson county. The family only remained in that county about three years, when they re- moved to Adams county, and took up land in Dell Prairie township in 1852. Here the father followed farming until the time of his death in, the spring of 1857, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother died Feb- ruary II, 1890, at the age of eighty-five years. They are both Ijuried in Adams county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Thomp- son five chiklren have been born, named in the order of their birth as follows: Estella, n_ow Mrs. T. 'lownsend, of Dell Prairie, born September 4, 1869; George W., of Austin, Minnesota, born February 26, 1871 ; Fred D., now a farmer of Dell Prairie, born September 5, 1875; ^laud M., now Mrs. D. Capron, of Dell Prairie, born No- vember 7, 1880; and Mabel B., living at home, born November 12, 1882. Mr. Thompson is a Democrat in political senti- ment, though he has not taken an active part ir. local political affairs. He is an honored member of John Gillespie Post, No. 50, G. A. R., of Kilbourn. GEORGE B. PAYNE. George B. Payne, a most progressive and successful agriculturist, is the owner of a beautiful farm of one hundred and eighty- three acres in Marcellon and Scott town- ships, Columbia county, \\'isconsin. His methods of farm management show scien- tific knowledge combined with sound, prac- tical judgment and the results show that "high-class" farming as an occupation can be made profitable as well as pleasant. Mr. Payne was born in Kane county, Illinois, in January, 1852. His father. 65G COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Aaron Payne, was a native of Springfield, that state, and a son of Charles and Eliza Payne, who came from the east, and finally took up their residence in Wisconsin. The grandfather engaged in farming and also operated a saw and gristmill at Geneva, that state, but spent his last days in Scott township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he died in 1871. His wife passed away the year previous. Aaron Payne came with his parents to Wisconsin, and in early life assisted his fa- ther in the mills and also ran a threshing machine until twenty-two years of age, when he left home and located in Linn township, Walworth county, where he operated a rent- ed farm. Later he purchased a place on Lake Geneva, which he carried on until 1852, when he came to Columbia county and leased a farm in Scott township, but after a short time spent here, he returned to Wal- worth county and resumed farming there. During tlie dark days of the Rebellion lie enlisted in Juno, 1861, in Company F, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, and remained in the service for five years and three months. The following year was spent in Walworth county, but at the end of that time he re- moved to Henry county, Illinois, where he remained until 1867, when he again came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and bought a farm in Scott township, where he now re- sides at the age of seventy-five years. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Scott, of New York state, a daughter of Benjamin and Sylva Scott, who lived in St. Peter, Minnesota, for many years, but later came to Scott township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where her father died November 3, 1882, the mother August 2t,, 1883. To Mr. and Mrs. Payne were born eight children, namely: Almira, wife of Perry Drinkwine, of Rock Falls, Wisconsin ; George, our subject; Nettie, wife of Joseph McGinnis, of Pardeeville, Wisconsin ; Ma- tilda, wife of Charles Cufif, of Marquette count}-; William, a resident of Scott town- ship, Columl)ia county; Albert, of Marcellon township; Hiram, of Scott township; and Carrie, who died in infancy. George B. Payne remained under the pa- rental roof until twenty-two years of age, and then located upon his present farm in IMarcellon township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has devoted his en- ergies with good results. He is also en- gaged in threshing, and being a natural mechanic, is a good blacksmith. His well- directed efforts have been crowned with suc- cess, and he has become one of the leading and representative farmers of his com- munity. Mr. Payne has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Maggie, daughter of John and Catherine Johnson, of Marcellon, and to them were born two children : George E., at home; and Annie, now the wife of William Ebert, of Pardeeville. The wife and mother died in August, 1878, and in 1880 Mr. Payne wedded Miss Mary Cuddy, a sketch of whose family appears in connec- tion with that of W^illiam Cuddy on another page of this volume. They have four chil- dren: Agnes, who is attending school; and Ella, Alma and Katie, all at home. In pol- itics Mr. Payne has been a lifelong Repub- lican. PETER G. JAOUES. Peter G. Jaques, of Wyocena township, Columbia county, was born in W'est Point, New York, July 24, 1810, and enjoys the distinction of being an original son of the Revolution. His parents, Solomon and Sarah (Mandigo) Jaques, were natives of the same place. The great-grandfather of our subject came from \Vales, and helped to drive the Indians from Long Island, and for COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 657 liis services received a square mile of land in Westchester county, New York, with a quantity of provisions and farm implements. The tract is still known locally as the "Mile square." Benjamin Jaques, the father of Solomon, removed to the western part of Westchester county, while the latter was a small boy, and a few years later went into Orange county. Solomon Jaques enlisted as a "fatigue man" during the Revolution, and was a teamster by employment. He bore a hand in the defense of Fort Mont- gomery, near his home, and when the fort fell into the hands of the British he retired to his father's home, hoping it would escape hostile attention. But the enemy came the next day and burned e\erything they. could, and left behind them nothing but wreck. After the war he lived on a farm in Orange county, New York, where he died in 1847, al the age of ninety-three. Sarah Mandigo was born in Orange county. New York. Her father, Michael Mandigo, came from Italy. She died many years before her hus- band, and left nine children, of whom one came to Wisconsin. The subject of this article when a boy worked on coasting vessels, and when he had reached the age of thirty owned a craft of considerable size himself. With it he made trips between Albany, New York City and adjacent ports. In his early boyhood he witnessed one of the first steamboats on the Hudson, which hz recalls as a side-wheeler without a wheel house. It required twenty- four hours between Albany and New York, did much puffing and made much smoke. It was called the "North Star." He saw the "Fulton" and the "Firefly", and has vivid memories of early days on the Hudson. In 1855 he came to this state and settled on a farm in the town of Wyocena, where he still lives. He voted for General Jackson in 1832, but has been a Republican since the organization of the party. When he was liv- ing in New York he was a member of the Methodist church, but is not crjunected with any church in Wisconsin. r^Ir. Jaques and Mary Jevness were married February 5, 1839. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Green) Jevness, and was born in Birming- ham, England, January 9, 1819. In 1825 the family came to the United States, first locating in Connecticut, and afterwards in Brooklyn and Highland Falls, New York, both parents reaching an extreme old age, her father being one hundred years old at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Jaques have three living children ; Mary Ann. the wife of P. C. Irwine, of Wyocena township; John Henry, living with his parents; and Eugenia Josephine, who is Mrs. Frank Ben- nett, of Columbia county. There are also seven grandchildren in the family. CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ. Christian Schultz, general farmer of Ouincy township, Adams county, has for nearly a quarter of a century been identified with the growth of that region. He is an ex-soldier, who went for the cause of his country, and for many years after his serv- ice was unable to walk without the aid of crutches. Loyalty, perseverance, industry and honesty have been the dominant traits of character which have controlled his career, and in his declining years he can look back over a well-spent life, and in reviewing his many experiences feel assured that his labors have not been in vain. He is proprietor of a fine estate, the income from which is suffi- cient to tide him through his life, and in the acquisition of his property he has been gain- ing a knowledge of men and the world which places him on an intellectual plane with his associates. Mr. Schultz was born at Hessenheim, 658 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, January 22, 1827, and was the sun of Lawrence and Maggie Sclinltz. His fatlier was a black- smith by occupation and never emigrated from his native land. Our subject attended school until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he learned the trade of black- smith. He served in the German army four years, and after leaving the ser\ice, in 1854, came to America. He secured work at his trade in Buffalo, New York, and remained there fi\-e years. He then decided to deter- mine what the west had in store for a young man and accordingly came to Wisconsin, and located in Germantown about i860. He worked at his trade at the saw-mill and was there fifteen years. He purchased his pres- ent farm in 1875. It comprises three hun- dred and twenty acres of land, one hundred and thirty acres of which he has cleared and cultivates, engaging in general farming. He has built a comfortable residence and commodious barns, and otherwise improved the estate, and mndern machinery is used to facilitate the work. Mr. Schultz enlisted in the Tenth Bat- talion, Wisconsin Artillery, and was trans- ferred to the Ninth Battery, and saw service in Colorado, Mexico and through the west, and was discharged at Leavenworth, Kan- sas, in 1863. He was taken ill and consigned to a hospital, and it was a number of years before he regained his health. Our subject was married in June, 1865, to Doris Chairman, of Germantown. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultz, seven of whom are living, as follows : Fred- erick, now residing at home; Maggie, now Mrs. W. Greenwood, of Ouincy; August, re- siding in Harmony, Minnesota; Louie, also in Harmony; Christian, at home; William, at home; and Nettie, residing in Martyn. Mr. Schultz is a prominent member of Friendship Post, G. A. R. He is a gentle- man who keeps posted on public affairs, and is interested in the welfare of his com- munity. His home surroundings are of a pleasant nature, and he is a man of good taste, and a visit to his estate will convince one of his thrift and the care exercised in the work attendant to farm life. He has spared no pains to make his farm one of the best in the community, and he may well be proud of his success. He is a gentleman who commands the respect of all with whom he is acfiuainted. F. A. DIERUF. F. A. Dieruf, a dealer in general mer- chandise at North Leeds, Columbia county, Wisconsin, is a son of William and Antonie (Kleinert) Dieruf, and was born at North Leeds November 5, 1873. His father was burn in b'rankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, in 1840, and at the age of nine years emi- grated to America with his mother and step- father, Jacob Dengel. The family, consisting of three sons and a daughter, settled at Madison, Wisconsin, where Mr. Dengel fol- lowed the trade of carpenter. Mr. William Dieruf learned the trade of bookbinder, and during the war acted as clerk in A. F. Waltzinger's confectionery store at Madison. He was married in 1865 to Antonie Kleinert, of Leeds, and two years later, in 1867, he located at North Leeds, Wisconsin. There he opened a general store and in a short time worked up a large trade, \>hich he carried on until his death. May 30, 1893. He was independent in politics, took a deep interest in local affairs, and served a number of years as town clerk and treasurer. He was a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church at Leeds, and at his death was mourned by a host of friends. Mrs. Antonie (Kleinert) Dieruf died No- vember 22, 1897, at the age of fifty-four COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 059 years. She was liorn in the Prussian province of Pomerania, Germany, and came to this country in 1854. Her father, August Fred- erick Kleinert, was one of the pioneer farm- ers of the town of Leeds. She was the motiier of tweh'e cliikh-en, eight of wliom are now sur\i\ing : ]\Iinnie, the wife of Jolm Hogan. of La Delle, South Dakota; Louisa, \> ho is Mrs. Robert Heisig. of Leeds ; An- t<m ■of our subject is living at Cartriglit with her son, Marco. Tlie father enhsted in April, 1 86 1, for three months" service in the Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, and re-enhst- ed in August, 1861, in tlie Twenty-ninth Ohio Regiment. He was dischargetl in tlie spring of 1863 on account of disability for injuries received at Port Republic. Myron Morley was the oldest in a family of seven children, and attended school at Ashtaljula until fdurteen years of age. He ran away from home and enlisted in Com- pany F, Second Ohio Cavalry, September 2;^, 1862, and was in the Army of the Cum- berland, and later in the Army of the Poto- mac, under Sheridan, in Custer's division of ca\alry. He did good and efficient service and was wounded at Hanover Court House, and was confined to the hospital at York, Pennsylvania, for about four months. He rejoined his regiment and was in the battle of Cedar Creek, and all of the engagements in which the cavalry was engaged during the last years of the war. He was discharged at St. Louis, June 10, 1865. After his dis- cliarge from the service he came to New Haven, Adams count}-, and in 1870 went to his i)resent location in Ouincy titwnshii), where he purchased one hundred and twen- ty-five acres of land. Since that time he has actively engaged in farming and has met with success. Mr. Morley was married, July 4, 1869, to Amanda Smith, daughter of Lorenzo D. and Eliza L. (Fisher) Smith, of Ouincy, who came from Ohio to Wisconsin about 1854. Six children have been born to Mr. and ]\Irs. Morley, as follows: Luther, born July I, 1S74, now residing at Martyn, mar- ried Elsie Needham, of Easton ; Daniel, born October 3, 1878, now at home; Ella L, born April 7, 1880, a teacher; Carrie M., born January ig, 1882, now residing at home; Mzy, born August 28, 1888, died in January. 1894; and one child unnamed, who died in infancy. Mr. Morley is a prominent mem- l)er of Ennis Reed Post, No. 209, G. A. R., and is present senior vice-commander. He is a Republican in political sentiment and is generally elected delegate to county conven- tions of his party. He has held every office in his township, with the exception of treas- urer, and is ever ready to advance the gen- eral welfare of Quincy township and Adams county. He is deservedly held in the high- est esteem by the members of the comnuui'ty. He is justice of the peace in Ouincy town- sliip, which office he has held fourteen years, and his name stands for equity and truth. PETER RICHARDS. Peter Richards, the publisher of the Lodi Valley "News," at Lodi, Columbia county, Wisconsin, is one of the veteran newspaper men of Wisconsin, and stands among the most devoted and u'^right members of the fraternity. He is a straightforward and honorable man, and never has been known to sink the right into the merely exjjedient, and traffic principle for success. Mr. Richards was born at Granville, Lick- ing county, Ohio, February 2, 1828, and is a son of W^illiam Samuel Richards and Tryphena Clark Bushnell, his wife. W. S. Richards was a native of New London, Connecticut, and his father, Wilham A. Richards, served as cjuartermaster of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, under Colonel Parsons, during the Revolution. He (W. A. Richards) was afterward high sheriff of New London county, and was a man of char- acter and standing" at that early day. Lie ( W. S. Richards) went to Ohio and back, in 1810, returning to Ohio in 1811, and made the long journey on horseback. He had studied medicine in the east, and for for- ty-one years he Vv-as a practicing physician at Granville, Ohio, v.diere he died by acci- 664 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. dent ill ]May, 1852, at tlie age of sixty-five years. He was actix-ely interested in the af- fairs of his community, and was without doubt one of the leading men of that part of the state. ^Irs. Tryphena Clark (Bushnell) Richards was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Her father was a purser in the navy of the United States and died in the West Indies of yellow fever. Peter Richards attended the preparatory department of Granville College, and the grammar school of Kenyon College, and in 1846 began the learning of the printing- trade at Newark, Ohio. In Alarch, 1855, he came to Wisconsin, and worked at his trade ai Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and then at Madison. Air. Richards made his entrance into the editnrial and publishing world, where he has acquitted himself so well, as the editor of the Baraboo "Independent," which he leased from Col. D. K. Noyes. This paper has been published in connection with the famous J. C. ("Shanghai") Chandler. On January i, 1873, JNIr. Richards and John H. Powers, now of the Baraboo "Republic," started the Elroy "Union," which they con- tinued for a year, though Mr. Powers with- drew from the enterprise at the end of Au- gust. In the spring of 1874 Mr. Richards abandoned the effort at Elroy, and came to Lodi. Here he began the publication of the Lodi X'allc)- "News," and has continued its publication to the present time. It is one of the oldest papers in Columbia county, and is second to none in moral tone and intellectual vdgor. Mr. Richards is still active at the case and works the press with the grace and agilitv of a voung man. JAAIES W. TRUMBULL. Among the progressive and modern ag- riculturists of Adams county. James W. Trumbull is recognized as one of the fore- most. His estate, situated in Ouincy town- ship, is a standing testimonial to his ability as a husbandiuan and to his attention to de- tails in the management of his farming op- erations. James ^\^ Trumbull was born in Hori- con, Dodge county, Wisconsin, November 25, 1850. His father, Simeon Trumbull, a native of Vermont, born in Burlington, was a plasterer by trade in his early manhood, and came to Wisconsin in 1845, ^"d located in Dodge county. He took up land there, which he occupied about twelve years. He then disposed of his property and removed to Adams county, Wisconsin, and took up eighty acres of land near Ouincy. He after- wards purchased about one hundred and thirty acres in section eighteen, which is still owned by his son James, the subject of this article. Simeon Trumbull was a stanch Re- publican in political sentiment, but never sought office. He was a hard worker and a thoroughly honest man, and had the re- spect and esteem of every one who knew him. He died March 4, 1899, aged seventy-nine years. Our subject's mother, Helen (An- derson) Trumbull, died January 7, 1873, at the age of forty-seven years. Both parents rest in the cemetery at Ouincy. To this worthy couple four children were born : Jo- sephine, now Mrs. A. Faxon, of Salem, Ore- gon ; James W., our present subject; Sealy, now in California; Crant, now in Lassen county, California. James W. Trumbull attended school un- til he was fifteen years old. .\t the age of sixteen vears be went into the pineries in Clark, Wood and Marathon counties. For about twenty-five j^ears he followed this call- ing, working at rafting during the summer months on the Wisconsin river. He made several trips as far as Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi. In 1882 he took pos- session of the farm, which is his present liomestead, and since that time has been con- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. GG5 ducting a g-eneral farniino- business. He is the owner of (_)ne luuidrcd and titty acres, alxnit one humlred of which he cultivates and tlie balance being" timber and pasture. He de\otes considerable attention to stock raising", of which he has made a success. Mr. Trum])ull was married, December I, 1874, to lunma W'ooil. a native of Michi- gan. Mrs. Trumbull's parents, Benjamin and Abigail (Knowland) \\'ood. reside in Ouincy, Adams county, W'iscon.sin. To Mr. and Mrs. Trumbull ti\"e children l!a\e been born, of whom four are living, named in. the order of birth as follows : Roy. burn No- vember 28, 1875; Allen, born No\"ember 7, 1878; Helen, born October 6, 1882; Sybil, born May 12. 1885. These children are all at home and form a pleasant and intelligent family circle. ~Sh. Trumbull is a Republican in politics, and uses his franchise in the in- terest of that party. He is much interested in matters of a public nature, and is an earn- est adherent of the principles of good go\'- ernnient. He is not an ot¥lce seeker, and his intiuence is therefore very effective with his friends and accjuaintances. His honesty and integrity have won for him the esteeni of all, and these, combined with his industry and able management, ha\e made him the pos- sessor of a valuable prijpertv. HUGH JA:\nESOX, Dece.^sed. In the preparation of a biographical rec- ord of Columbia county it would be ac- counted incomplete if proper representation were not made of this old Scotch gentle- man, pioneer and representative business man. Hugh Jamieson was born in Underbill, parish of Loudon, Ayrshire, Scotland, May 15, 1829, and died at Poynette, January 20, 1899. He was a son of Hugh Jamieson and Janet Findlev. natives of Scotland, the fam- ily having been residents of that immediate portion of Scotland for the last four hun- dred years. Some of their ancestors were among the Covenanters who were subjected to persecutiiin on account of their religious principles, and later members of the family participated in public aftairs and exerted considerable influence in the community. Hugh Jamieson. the elder, died when the subject of this re\-iew was but two 3"ears old, and the mother, Mrs. Janet Jamieson, canie to ^^'isconsin, was a pioneer of the Wiscon- sin \'alley and died at Poynette, in April, 1865, at the age of four score and eight years. She was a daughter of John Find- Icy, of \\'oo(_lhead, ]5arish of Loudon, and was the mother of two sons and two daugh- ters, as follows: Janet (Mrs. Robert Wil- son), Agnes (Mrs. Thomas Mair), John and Hugh. Hugh Jamieson was educated in his 11a- tive country and while a boy had the good fortune to be received by the Queen of Eng- land. In 1848 he came to the United States, and spent a short time in Jefferson county, \\'isconsin. While there he was engaged in teaming, making several trips to Milwau- kee and various Iuml)er districts of Wiscon- sin. September 14, 1849, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, upon which a portion of the present village of Poynette is located, for which he paid three hundred and twenty dollars. A year or two later he located on this land, his first resi- dence being a small log cabin. He later ac- Cjuired more lands, and at one time owned over one thousand acres, including several of the best farms in Columbia count\". the products for some }"ears being marketed by team in Milwaukee and the Wisconsin pin- eries. In addition to his farming operations he conducted for some sixteen years the Ensniinger Hotel at Poynette, at which place 666 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. he also erected the first grain elevator and for a number of years dealt successfully in produce, lumber and agricultural imple- ments, most of these enterprises being still continued by his sons. He organized the Bank of Poynette, one of the most substan- tial financial institutions of Columbia coun- ty, of which he was president during the balance of his life. He was married. No\-ember 9, 1851, to Miss Lucy Thomas, a nati\e of Cambridge, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Samuel B. and Samantha (Jack- son) Thomas, natives of Hindsdale. Berk- shire county, Massachusetts. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jamieson, Samuel B. Thomas, was liorn in \\'orcester county, Massachusetts, while the father came from Cornwall, England. INIrs. Samantha Thomas and her mother, whose maiden name was ]\Iartha Rhoades, were born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Samuel B. Thomas, father of Mrs. Jamieson, became a pioneer of Wisconsin in 1848, settling at Ivnappen's (jro\-e. He afterwards removed to Missouri, where he attained the age of eighty-eight years.. His son, John Thomas, was the first merchant at Poynette and also the first post- master. He suggested the name in honor of Paucpiette, the famous Indian fur trader ar Fort \\'innebago. but by erri^ir on the i^art of the ]X)Stal authorities at \\'ashington the name was corrupted to the name of Poy- nette. To the union of Mr. and ^Mrs. Janiie- scn were born nine children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Hugh I^.. the first white child born in the village of Poynette ; William W. ; Addison J. ; Samantha Janet (Mrs. E. E. Hinkson) ; John C. ; Samuel, railway agent at Arlington, Wisconsin ; and Amy \'. (Mrs. Eric Johnson). The Jamieson family were reared in the fi.ith and are earnest supporters of the Pres- bvterian denomination. Referring again to the subject of this article, we find a man of great energy, determination and remarkalile business capacity, and wherever known was accredited as a man of the most strict in- tegrity. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and his right of suffrage was cast in support of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, in which organization he was for many years a leader and earnest advo- cate. In the death of Hugh Jamieson the county of Columbia lost one of her highly- respected and influential citizens, while the family continues prominent in business and social circles. NELS PAULSON. Nels Paulson, who, with his son, Edward, conducts one of the finest farms in Strong's Prairie township, Adams county, is a for- eign born citizen, but since taking up his residence in America he has contributed to the growth and upbuilding of her better in- terests, and can be truly classed among the public-spirited men of his community. He has followed the occupation of a farmer for over forty years, and has gleaned a knowledge of his calling which makes his judgment sure, and he is a gentleman of broad mind and excellent habits and is willingly accorded the esteem of bis fellow men. Mr. Paulson was born in Norway, Janu- ary 23, 1828, and was the son of Paul and Paulina (Johnson) Paulson, who were farm- ers in their native land and remained there during their lives. Our subject was given as good an education as was afiforded the youth of that time, and at the age of sixteen years learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1855. With a young man's desire to see more of the world he came to America in that year, and located in Chester township. Dodge county, Wisconsin, where COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 667 he ])lied his trade for about seven years. He then purcliased a farm in Fond chi Lac count_v, remaining there about fifteen }-ears, after which he mo\-ed to l\ud()l])h, Wood county, and conducted farming in that coun- ty al)Out ten years. He purchased liis jjres- ent farm in Strong's Prairie tnwushi)), in 1887, and has since resided thereon. The farm comprises three hundred and sixty acres, and he lias succeeded in clearing for cultivation about two hundred acres, and in company with his son engages in general farming. Air. Paulson \\as married to Dorotha Christianson, da--ghter of Elling and (".u- hne Christianson, of Dodge county, W'is- consin. One child was born tn liless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paulson, a son, Edward. He has always resided with his parents, and was given a good education. He has spent his life working with his fa- ther, with the exception of three years, when he was attending the Luther College at De- corah, Iowa. He was married, April 17, 1881, toSigridReierson, daughter of Germund and Gunnil Reierson, of Numedal, Xorwav, \vho came to tlie United States in iS6_', and liu-at- ed in Strong's Prairie. To this uninn iif Ed- v,"ar(l and Sigrid Paulson eight children have been born, seven of wlmm are living, as fol- l(.\\s: Xels, (jermun, Dorotha, Salmar, (ius- ta\-, Maria and Martha. '1 hev are an in- telligent family of children and all are at home with their parents on the Immestead farm. B(_)th our subject and his son are mem- bers of the Lutheran church, and in political sentiment are Republicans. 'Mr. Paulson. Sr., is not an active worker for his party, but his son takes an active interest in po- htical movements, and attends as delegate many state and county conventions of the party. He has held various local offices of trust, including townshi]) clerk, treasurer arid chairman of the board. The father and son are able, representative citizens of the ci immunity in which they reside, and the township (if Strong's Prairie may well be proud to number them among the influential men. HORACE S. OBRION. Horace S. Obrinn, one of the foremost citizens of the tnwn of Fountain Prairie, Columbia comity, was liorn in Dundee, Vates county, New York, March i, 1841, and l)y industry, thrift and honest deahng with the public has accumulated a very com- fortable fortune. He stands high in the es- timation of the ])ublic, and is ]jassing the closing years of an himorable career in peace and comfort. John Obrii.in, the father of Horace S.. was a native of Xew York, and married Jane Margaret Kress, also Ixirn in the same state. His grandfather was born in Ireland, and married an English woman. He was a wheelwright by trade, while his wife's people were largely farmers. He came west in 1844, and settled in Cnlumbia county, making his home fur a \'ear at Columbus. In 1845 he took up iine hundred and twenty acres of go\-ernment land in Fountain Prairie, and here he held I'lis residence until his death, which occurred Xo\-eml)er 20, 1856. His widow sur\i\-ed him many years, anfl remained on the old farm until the day of her death, August 19. 1884. They were the parents of six children : Myron died X^ovember 19, 1883 ; Ida did not live out her childhood ; Ann married Reuben Arner, and has her home at Elrov, Wisconsin ; Jennie is the wife nf William Kann, and li\'es at the same [jlace. Horace S. was educated in the common schools of the neighborhoiid, and was enter- ir.g u])on his \-oung manhimd at the outbreak of the Ci\il war. His mother offered to send him awav tu school, but he had the 668 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. patriotic impulse tliat dominated the loyal north so strongly and determined to enlist in the Union army. He was mustered into the Thirty-second Regiment, Wisconsin \ olunteer Infantry, August ii, 1862, and with his regiment went directly to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was soon attached to the command of General Grant. The winter was spent on the skirmish line and in pur- suit of Marmaduke and Forrest. The regi- ment was in no battle of ao}- importance until the last year of the war, when it took part in General Sherman's memorable "march to the sea." After the surrender of General Johnston the regiment was marched to Washington to take part in the "Grand Review," the most memorable mili- tary pageant ever witnessed on this con- tinent. There Mr. Obrion was mustered out about June i, 1865, and immediately re- turned to Wisconsin. During the war he luid risen to the rank of first sergeant, and had manifested much ability and courage as a soldier. The arts of war had, however, no attraction for him, and he gladly em- braced the opportunity to engage once more in peaceful labors. Mr. Ubrion was marrietl, August 20, 1865, at Arena, \Visconsin, to Angelia Fiero. whose home was at Danville, Dodge county, Wisconsin. Her parents had moved to Winnebago City, Minnesota, and she was making her home with her sister, awaiting the home-coming of her future husband. She was the daughter of Stephen and Lany Fiero, and was born ]\Iay 10, 1842, in Mentz, Cayuga county. New York. Her parents were probably native to the same state, but her grandparents were Holland born. They had a family of ten children, of whom only three are living: Mrs. Margaret Hatch, Mrs. Mary Jane Huntington, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Horace Obrion. Stephen Fiero brought his family to Michi- gan in 1848, and was a farmer there until 1855. That year he settled at Danville, Wisconsin. Mrs. Fiero died in Minnesota in 1863, and Islv. Fiero in the same state fourteen years later. Horace Obrion settled down on the old farm after his marriage, and has made it his home until the present time. He has taken a prominent position in local affairs almost from the first, and has served as a member of the town board of supervisors for many years, and has frequently been chairman of the organization. He is a strong Republican, though his father was a Democrat. He belongs to the Aloderu \Voodmen of America, and has been banker of that order. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Fall River Methodist church, ami he has ser\-ed it as a steward for more than thirty years. There are six children in the family : Minnie is the wife of Dr. F. D. Hunt, of Fall River; Mabel is Mrs. R. D.' Evans, and lives in the same place; Sidney S. married Alice Foster, and is living at DeSmet, South Dakota; \\'alter is a tele- graph operator, and is at home with his parents ;Ethel assists in the home duties ; and Frnest is in the junior j^ear of the Colum- bus high school. Mr. and Mrs. Obrion are pleasant, sociable people, and are well thought of in the community. She could easily es- tablish her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and he is very sure his grandfather fought in that great struggle. Both families have always been faithful to their country's need, and on every occasion ha\e furnished their full quota of soldiers. JAMES ASAHEL STONE. James Asahel Stone, one of the leading- attorneys and prominent business men of Sauk county, Wisconsin, now located at COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 669 Keedsburg, was born in Smitlitield, Madison county. New York, December i, 1856, and is a son of Captain James Riley and Pamela Coe (Ellinwood) Stone. The father was also a native of Smithfield and his ancestors were from Connecticut. During the dark days of the Rebellion, he recruited Com- pany F, of the One Hundred and Fifty- seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned captain of his company, being mustered in as such September ig. 1862. Among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Chancel- lorsville and Gettysburg, and at the latter he was taken prisoner. After one year spent in Libby prison, during which time he en- dured untold hardships, he was transferred to Alacon, Georgia, where he died August 12, 1864, at the age of forty years. He was a brave soldier and was greatly respected by his men as well as his fellow officers. Prior to entering the army he engaged in farming and working at the stone mason'.'^ trade, and many monuments of his skill and handiwork are still to be seen at Peterboro, New York. His wife was also a native of Madison county, New York, and a daughter of George W. Ellinwood, a prominent citizen of that locality, who was engaged in farming and hotel keeping, and also served as justice of the peace for some years. The Ellin- wood family is of Scotch-Irish lineage. The preliminary education of our sub- ject was obtained in the common school and Evans Academy, of Peterboro, New York. In the winter of 1869-70 he came with his mother to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and locat- ed on a farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted his energies through the summer months, while in the winter he attended the Reedsburg high school, where he was grad- uated in 1875. Subsequently he attended the Oshkosh Normal School for one term, and for two years was a student at the State University. Later he studied law with Judge Stevens and R. P. Perry, of Reedsburg, and was admitted to the bar in 1889, since which time he has successfully engaged in general practice. He spent five years in Pot- ter and Sully counties. South Dakota, locat- ing settlers, conducting contests, etc., and still owns a claim there. Since his return to Reedsburg he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and in connection with his professional duties he is more or less interested in the insurance and collection business. He was one of the incorporators of the State Bank of that place, for which he acts as attorney. Mr. Stone was married, April 19, 1884, to Miss Minnie Louise Corwith, a daughter of Silas W. and Anna L. (Albrecht) Cor- with, of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. Her father died in Reedsburg, June 2~, 1894, at the age of nearly seventy-eight years, but her mother, who was born in Doelleda, Germany, is still living in Reedsburg, at the age of sixty-three. Mrs. Stone was born in Troy township, Sauk county, March 6, 1857- Mr. and Mrs. Stone have three children : Anna Louise, James Riley and Millie Coe. Mr. Stone has always taken a deep in- terest in educational affairs. He served two terms as city superintendent of schools, and three years as member of the board of edu- cation. He is now a member of the board of directors of the free public library, of Reedsburg, which was established by his earnest effort, combined with other public- spirited citizens. His family attend the Presbyterian church. In social bodies he is a member oi Maplewood Camp, No. 470, M. W. A., and its presiding officer; is a member of Reeds- burg Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and has taken the chapter degrees in ]\Iasonry. Both he and wife belong to Queen of Shelja Chapter, O. E. S., at Reedsburg. Politically he is identified with the Re- 670 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. publican party, and (October, 1900) is the nominee for tlie assembly for the second dis- trict in Sauk county. For four years he has creditably filled the office of city attorney of Reedsburg. He holds and merits a place among the representative legal, practitioners and citi- zens of Reedsburg, and is a pleasant, affable gentleman who makes many friends. STEPHEN HUNGERFORD. Stephen Hungerford, who now makes his home with his son in Dell Prairie town- ship, Adams county, haying retired from the struggles and cares of a busy life, was for many years connected with the agri- cultural interests of Adams county. He owned a considerable tract of land lying partly in that and partly in Columbia coun^ ty, and carried on farming on a respectable scale. In 1900 he disposed of his place and sought the rest a long and active career had earned for him. Mr. Hungerford was born near Fulton, Oswego county, New York, September 29, 1 81 8, and was the son of Eleazer and Har- riet M. OVaterhouse) Hungerford. The family settled in New York in an early day and became worthy citizens of that state. The father engaged in sailing a vessel on Lake Ontario for a number of years, but on account of ill health gave up that occu- pation at the time of his marriage. The father died about 1869 and was laid to rest in Oswego county, New York. Until nineteen years of age our subject ■was bound out to farm work for a term of years, and uix)n attaining his majority he was employed by the state of New York as salt inspector, at Syracuse. During this time he also followed blacksmithing and car- riage making, in which work he continued for alxtut six years. \\'hen thirty-one years of age he went to California, via the Isth- mus, wdiich he crossed on foot, and then taking a steamer for San Francisco, the en- tire trip taking about six months. He en- gaged in mining in that state with varied success, and after four and one-half years, in 1854, returned to New York, and after a brief stay left for Kinderhook, Branch county, Michigan, where he purchased land and began farming. He followed farming there nine years, and then disposed of his interests, and in April, 1864, came to Adams county, Wisconsin, where he carried 01: farming until 1900 when, as stated, he sold out and reniox-ed to Dell J-'rairie town- ship. Mr. Hungerford was married June i^,, 1843, to Lydia M, Root, daughter of Free- dom and Sally ( Crippen) Root, of Lysander, Onondaga county, New York. Mrs. Hun- gerford's father v,as a prominent hotel keeper of that place, and his tleath occurred in i860, and the mother passed away in 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. Hungerfonl the following children were born : Mar^•, now Mrs. M. .V. Rublee, of Kilbourn, Wiscon- sin; Henry, now in Washington; Orvil died Feliruary J4, 1894, and was buried at Sib- ley, Iowa; Charles, farming in Washington; Fred, farming in Dell Prairie township; Frank, now Mrs. L. B. Dunton, of Dundee, Illinois; and Lonis, farming at White Creek, Adams county. Airs. Stephen Ilungei'-ford died July 24, 1900, and lies l)urietl in Spring Gro\'e cemetery, Kilbourn. Mr. Hungerford is one of the iniblic- spirited men of his community, and despite liis eighty-two years is still greatl}' inter- ested in the welfare of the people. He fol- lows public affairs and keeps posted on the issues under daily discussion, and is a gen- tleman who is strong in his convictions. He is a memlier of the Popuhst party in political sentiment, and along the lines of his COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 671 party takes an active interest, but does not seek ])iil)lic otilice : lie stands as a prominent memlier of tlie farming community, where he lias chosen to reside for so many years. His career has lieen one of usefulness and activity, and he is passing his declining years amid those who honor the characteris- tics which have dominated his life. PETER WILLIAMS. Peter Williams is one of the best-known citizens of Cambria, having been a resident of that place nearly all the time for more tlian half a centiu'v. During the greater jiart of this period he has served the people in some official or business capacity and his con- duct of these affairs has been such as to merit and receive the approbation of his associates. Mr. Williams is a native of Wales, born to Thomas and Jane (Andrew) Williams at Penmachno, Caernarvonshire, on the 17th day of December, 1831. At the age of fourteen years, his father having died, he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade. Having served three years thereat, in 1849 lie crossed the ocean and came to Wiscon- sin. In the meantime his mother had mar- ried Mr. Owen R. Roberts and the family had settled in Columbia county in 1847. After spending a few 3'ears with them upon a farm in the town of Courtland, Peter started out to seek his fortune. Tailoring- had never been congenial to his tastes and he endeavored to find some other work, but as his entire cash capital consisted of twenty- five cents, he was constrained to accept em- ployment in a tailor shop at Beaver Dam at the princely salary of eight dollars per month, though his services soon commanded better remuneration. During the next few years he visited various places in Wiscon- sin and worked at several different pur- suits without materially improving his cir- cumstances, but accjuiring some useful ex- perience. In the spring of 1854 he opened the first tailor shop in Cambria and con- ducted the same for twenty-five j-ears or more, receiving the patronage of the best citizens of that village. In .the meantime he devoted his intervals of leisure to reading law and in 1880 he was admitted to the bar. He began practice in partnership with A. Scott Sloan, then secretary of state for Wisconsin, who was for many years an in- timate friend of Mr. Williams. Since that time he has devoted most of his attention to this profession thi:)Ugh simultaneously fill- ing one or more official positions almost constantlv. Eor many years he has Ijeen a justice of the peace, and it should be men- tioned to his credit that it has been his policy to discourage rather than to promote litiga- tion among a people who are naturally in- clined to preserve order and harmony in their relations one to another. He has also served as town clerk, president of the vil- lage, postmaster and member of the coun- t}' boartl of super\'isors. In 1888 he was elected clerk of the court for Co- lumbia county. Two 3'ears later he was re- elected by the popular vote, but was unable to hold the office, owing to a technicality. He has been a promoter of many useful measures calculated to advance the interests of the town and county, and has conscien- tiously discharged every trust reposed in him by the people. He has been a consist- ent supporter of Republican principles from the inception of that party, having cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856. In 1895 Governor Upham ap- pointed him agent for the Wisconsin School for Dependent Children, at Sjjarta, which po- sition he filled for eighteen months. Mr. Williams has erected two of the most substantial and attractive brick buildings upon the main street of Cambria, and is a 672 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. stockholder of Cambria Music Hall. While he has been too liberal, and honest to accumu- late a fortune,hehas been reasonably success- ful in a business way and there is probajjly no n-.an in Cambria who enjoys a greater degree of the public confidence. An honored member of the Masonic fraternity, he has filled the principal chairs in Cambria Lodge, and is connected* with Fort Winnebago Chapter at Portage. No\-ember 24, 1856, he secured a help- mate upon life's journey in the person of Miss Eleanor Owens, daughter of Owen S. and Grace (Jones) Owens. This estimable lady was born at Bethesda, C?ernarvonshire, Wales, and came to Columbia county with her parents in 1847, settling in the town of Springvale. Evan Jones, maternal grand- father of Mrs. Williams, was a harper and attained remarkable skill in that profession. During the greater part of his life he was employed to play in an inn at Csergybi, near the foot of Snowdon, which was frequented by tourists from England and other parts of Europe. Of eight children born to Mr. ard Mrs. Williams, but two survived the period of infancy, but eight grandchildren delight their hearts. Their only son, Owen Caradoc, is a well-known business man of Cambria, and their daughter, Jennie, is the wife of Thomas A. Sanderson, of Minne- apolis. JOHN BROWN NORTON. John Brown Norton, one of the pioneer printers and publishers of Wisconsin, is now- living retired after a long, busy and useful life at Baraboo. His identification with "the art preservative of all arts" dates from his seventh year ami from that time until he laid aside business cares in 1880 he was in some way connected with the publishing business. Mr. Norton was born in Mt. Zion, Han- cock county, Georgia, in August, 1826, a son of Jacob and Harriet (Holbrook) Nor- ton, both natives of Weymouth, Massachu- setts. The father was a lineal descendant of Rev. John Norton, the founder of the first church in Hingham, Massachusetts, which structure is still standing and is now the oldest church in the United States. He was a nephew of Rev. John Norton, who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1635, and after jareaching there for one year went t(5 Boston, and for many years was pastor of the first church there, it being the pred- ecessor of the famous Old South Church. Rev. Jacob Norton, grandfather of our sub- ject, was a graduate of Harvard College and a fellow student and relative of J. Q. Adams. For the long period of forty-three years he was pastor of one church in Wey- mouth, Massachusetts. He married Eliza- beth Cranch, daughter of Judge William Cranch, of Boston, and a niece of Abigail Smith, who became the wife of President John Adams. All his sons, with one ex- ception, were graduates of Harvard. Jacob Norton, father of our subject, served as a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and took part in the campaign about Lake Champlain. He was one of the most ex- pert swordsmen of his day. Li early life lie learned the printer's trade with Lincoln & Edmunds, one of the oldest publishing- firms of Boston, and later he carried on a book printing establishment of his own. About 1 81 8 he went to Georgia and for twelve years or more was editor and pro- prietor of the "Hancock County Advertiser." He then located in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he engaged in the book and job print- ing business until his death. Subsequently, about 1850, his widow came to Wisconsin and died in Prairie du Sac, Sauk county, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. When a young woman she sang in the choir of COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY (573 Dr. William E. Channing's church at Bos- ton, Massachusetts. Her father, Jolm Hol- brook, was an extensive dealer and manu- facturer of boots, shoes and furs at Boston, removed to St. Louis, Missouri, at an early •day and erected the first brick house in that city. John B. Norton, of this review, spent the greater part of his boyhood in Lowell, Massachusetts, and there acquired his early education. At the age of seven years he began setting type, and after having thor- oughly mastered the printer's trade he went to New York City, where he was in the em- ploy of Harper Brothers for a number of years. Had his health permitted him to re- main longer with that firm he was to have been made assistant superintendent of their establishment. Li 1855 he came to Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, and spent two years on a farm recuperating. He then went to Madi- son and secured an interest in the "State Journal," which he retained for nearly a quarter of a century. During this time the office furnished to Anson Kellogg, of the "Baraboo Republic," the first "insides," so called, ever printed in the Lhiited States. While connected with the "Journar' Mr. Norton was state printer for a time. Owing to failing health he severed his connection with the paper in 1880, and lived for sev- eral years in retirement at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but is now a resident of Bara- boo, Wisconsin. Before coming to this state he started the first steam press in Savannah, Georgia, and the second in that state. In 1848 Mr. Norton married Miss Caro- line M. T. Fowler, a native of Andover, New Hampshire, and a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Leavitt) Fowler, of Lowell, Massachusetts. Her maternal grandfather, Major Jonathan Leavitt, served from the beginning until the close of the Revolution- ary war, taking part in many engagements on both land and sea. He was with the army during the famous winter at Valley Forge. He died at Conway, New Hampshire, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton are as follows: Claude R., a [ihysician of Phila- delphia, Penns},'l\-ania ; John Jacob, a resi- dent of Rome, New York, and was secretary and treasurer of the Rome Gas and Electric Light Company for many years, now special agent for an extensive Nicaraguan enter- prise; Carrie Fowler, wife of Dr. C. H. Hall, of Madison, Wisconsin ; and David A., who died August 20, 1892, soon after his graduation from the University of Penn- sylvania, at Philadelphia. Socially Mr. Norton afliliatcs with the Masonic fraternity and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically is identi- fied with the Republican party, though at local elections he sometimes votes inde- pendent of party ties. He is widely and favorably known throughout the state and has a host of warm friends in Sauk county. CURTIS B. NEFF. Curtis B. Neff, residing on section 28, in Easton township, is one of the pioneer settlers of Adams county. He has engaged in the pursuit of agriculture the greater part of his life, and to his efforts much of the present solid prosperity of his vicinity is due. He came to Adams county when it was a wilderness and has assisted in trans- forming it into one of the most thriving agricultural districts in \Visconsin. His home is one of pleasant surroundings and he has added modern improvements and prospered in his chosen calling, and is now one of the substantial men of his community. It is through his perseverance and honest dealings that he has acquired a fortune, and is supplied with the comforts of life. 674 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Neff was I)orn July 12, 1823, at Cortland, Xew Y(_irk, and was the son of Isaac and Polly (Black) Neff, of Dutch de- scent. The family resided near the Mohawk river many years and the father was a farmer. They went to Lake Mills, Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin, about 185 1 or 1852 and took up land on which the father en- gaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred in 1889, aged ninety-five years. The mother survived him fi\e years and died at the age of ninety-one or ninet\"-t\\o years, and both were buried at Lake Mills. In the famih- of nine children our sub- ject was the fifth in order of l)irth. He went to Jefferson county one year later than his parents, and purchased forty acres of land near Lake Mills, where he stayed about eight years. He came to Easton, Adams county, on a hunting expedition and the creek and general appearance of the coun- try pleased him and he disposed of his in- terests in Jefferson county and pre-empted one hundred and twenty, acres of land in section 28, which is his present home farm. He has con\'erted it into a well-improved farm and most of the land is under culti- vation. Mr. Neff was married in December, 1847, to Nancy L. Frink, daughter of George and Esther (Brown) Frink, of Lake Mills, who came to Wisconsin from New York. Mrs. Neff died June 18, 1873. Six children, five of whom are living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff, as follows : Caroline, now Mrs. L. Lampher, of Easton; Henry, engaged in farming in Easton township; William, mining in California; Laura, re- siding at home; and George, farming at home. Mr. Neft' stands for the principles of the Republican party. He has lent his influence for the upbuilding of Adams county, and is prominent in the farming community where he has resided so many years. He has held various township offices of trust, and in every instance dischargetl his duties faithfully and well. He has labored hard throughout his career, and during his younger days had little opportunity to gain an education, but through his own eft'orts he has acquired a good education and is well read and keeps abreast of the times. To such men the com- munity owes a debt of gratitude for the part they ha\e taken in the advance of civili- zation, and the community of Easton town- ship willingly accurds this gentleman the highest esteem. J/iMES FRANCIS FORREST. James Francis Forrest, a well-known farmer of the town of Arlington, Columbia county, also possesses a noteworthy me- chanical skill and ingenuity. He is a man ot decided business ability. He makes fruit raising and pigeons a specialty, and gives his farm much care and thought, and demands that it should give corresponding results. He belongs to one of the pioneer families of the county, being the son of William For- rest, a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, whose parents died in that country during his boyhood. When grown to manhood he came to the United States and lived for a time in \'ermont. About 1850 he came to Wisconsin, and located in the town of Ar- lington. He built the first house in "Pine Hollow," and at the same time he purchased land in section 10, of the same town. There he made his home from 1863 to his death, January 11, 1894, at the age of seventy- seven )'ears, ten months and twenty-nine days. He was a successful farmer, and the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he had thoroughly improved. He was a Democrat, but never an office seeker. He married Miss Marion Brown- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 075 lee, a native of Carluke, Lanarksliire, Scot- land, and a daugliter of Alexander and Marion (Liglitbody) Brownlee, her mother springing from an old and aristocratic fam- ily. Mrs. Marion Forrest died November 30, 1892, at the age of seventy-six years, three months and seventeen days. She was the motlier of five ciiildren : Marion, Mrs. John W'. \\'rig"ht, of Baraboo, Wisconsin; Agnes and Jean, of Poynette ; Ehzabetli, the wife of W'ilHam Axon, of Lodi, Wis- c(jnsin ; and James F. James Francis Forrest was born in the town of Arhngton, Cohunbia county, Wis- consin, April 28, 1863, and the farm that is now his home, and which he is cultivat- ing with so much success, is also his birth- place. Here he spent his boyhood, and at- tended the public schools, finishing at Poy- nette and at Madison. He is a natural me- chanic, and has devised many labor-saving appliances, which he operates with a station- ary engine. He is constantly called upon to repair farming implements for his neighbors, and among other things has invented and constructed a very practical manure- spreader. He has also made several clocks, of a curious and complicated pattern, and does considerable fine scroll work. Mr. Forrest and Miss Mabel Chipman were married May 14, 1896. She is a daughter of George and Martha (Taylor) Chipman, of whom mention is made in the sketch of W. R. Chipman, published in this volume. The grandmother of Mrs. Forrest, Mrs. Achsa Taylor, is an estimable lady of ninety-seven years, and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Forrest, where she is sur- rounded with an atmosphere of tender and venerating lo\e. She was born in New Hampshire. James Francis Forrest and wife are the parents of one child, Nellie, a sweet and winsome little girl, born Novem- ber I, 1897. The family are connected with the Presbyterian church at Poynette, and are counted among the best people in this section of the county. Mr. Forrest has lieen a Pro- hibitionist from boyhood. ROYAL AVERS, Dece.xsed. Royal Ayers, deceased, was for many years recognized as one of the leading citi- zens of Fairfield township, Sauk county, Wisconsin, and he is still remembered by the older residents of this portion of the county as a man of indomitable force of character. He was horn at Rockingham, Vermont, March 27, 1824, and died in the township of Fairfield, June 25, 1891, and within these limits lived a useful and hon- orable life. He was a son of Moses and Abigail (Proctor) Ayers, and a descendant of John Ayers, who was born in Notting- liam, England, in 1592, and came to Massa- chusetts in 1637, and was the founder of the family in America. Moses Ayers was a native of Concord, New Hampshire, where h.c was born in 1790, dying in Putney, Ver- mont, when over seventy-eight years. Y^bigail Proctor was born in Washington, New .Hami^shire, and died at Putney, Ver- mont, when past ninety-seven years. Moses Ayers was a son of William Ayers, of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and married Mollie Reynolds, a daughter of Samuel "Runels," a prominent pioneer of Bradford, Massachusetts. Royal Ayers was one of a family of thir- teen children, of whom two died in infancy. Royal and three of his sisters became resi- dents of Sauk county. They were: Abbie, who married W. R. Glover, and lived in Greenfield township ; Martha married George W. Barnes and had her home in Fairfield townshi]); Louisa married O. G. Watkins, of Baraboo township, and is now dead. C76 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Rlr. Avers went to Massachusetts wiien sev- enteen years of ag'e, and for the next ten years was mainly employed on the wharves at Weymouth. He was three years or more in Rockingham, Vermont, and in 1855 came to Wisconsin and located in Fairfield town- ship, where he bought two hundred acres of land, receiving for a portion of this a gov- ernment patent. He devoted his life to the improvement of this valuable tract, and made it one of the choicest farms of the county. And this farm was his home until his death. He was a believer in land, and at one time owned over six hundred acres. He was at different periods of his life engaged to a considerable extent in loaning money, and seldom made a misdeal. He was a vigorous and industrious man, possessed an excellent judgment and made his mark upon the com- mercial and business interests of Sauk county. He was a Republican, and always took an active interest in politics. For nine years he was chairman of the town board, holding that ofifice at the time of his death. He was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, enlisting February 7. 1865, as a member of Company E, Forty- ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out November 14, 1865. He was stationed at Rolla, and Benton Bar- racks, ]\Iissouri. Islx. Ayers and Miss Nancy Jackson were married November 9, 1848. She is a daugh- ter of Luther and Sally (Noyes) Jackson, and was born at Abington, Massachusetts. Her father was born near Plymouth Rock, and was a shoemaker by trade. He died at Abington, July 18, 1887, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Ayers is the mother of one son and four daughters: Lucy was born at Abington, Massachusetts, and died January 22, 1863; Abbie E., born May 4, 1852, at Rockingham, Vermont, has taught fourteen years in the schools of Sauk county, and is now Mrs. Elwyn D. Kidder, of Harriman, Tennessee; Carrie Frances, born January 3, 1857, is now Mrs. E. R. Thomas, of Fairfield township; Ella Vesta, born May 19, 1859, is living on the homestead farm; Charles Jackson, born November 23, 1861, has always lived on the home farm, which he now owns. He has been a Prohibitionist from bo}'hood, and has no desire for offi- cial position. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers helped to organize the Fairfield Methodist church, and he was one of three contributors to pur- chasing a building for purposes of worship. The family is known as an intelligent and cultured one, and all its members are full of a high purpose in life. The son is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, and was a Good Templ.ar as long as the order was maintained in Fairfield. SHERMAN COLBURN, Deceased. Sherman Colburn, deceased, was for many years prior to his death one of the leading farmers of Springville township, Adams county, and left an estate, which is one of the best in that community. The homestead is located on section 13, and his widow now makes her home there, with her two youngest children. Mr. Col.burn was an agriculturist for over thirty 3'ears, and was an earnest worker and well posted on general topics. He made a success of his vocation, and won the esteem of his fellow men. He was an ex-soldier, and no man ever entered the defense of his country with more loyalty and patriotism. His life was that of an honest man and public-spirited citizen, and he passed away mourned by many friends. Our subject was born in Fairfield, Ver- mont, April 16, 1825, and was the son of Hugh and Sylvia (Sherman) Colburn. His father lived in Vermont and was from an old established family of that state. He was a blacksmith by trade. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. G77 Of a famil}- of four children oiir subject was the second in order of birth, and after the age of six years was reared by an aunt, Mrs. Barlow. He Hved with her until about twenty years of age, and attended school and received a fair education. He went to Boston about 1845 and learned the trade of currier, which he followed until about thirty years of age. He turned his steps toward the new west in 1855, and for sev- eral years was employed in the pineries of Wisconsin and later engaged in farming, spending twelve years on various farms. He then purchased his farm in section 13, Springville township, where he resided un- til his death. He enlisted in Company K, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and en- gaged in the siege of Vicksburg and numer- ous small skirmishes, and was discharged after about nine months' service. He was a true and bra\'e soldier and never once fal- tered when duty called. Mr. Colburn was married, June 10, 1856, to Elvira Bresee, daughter of Andrew and Mary Ann (Thomas) Bresee, of ■ Sutton, Quebec, who were of French Canadian de- scent. Eight children were born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Colburn, as fol- lows: Edwin S., born November 29, 1859, now residing at Big Spring; Harvey B., born October 18, 1862, now farming in Dell Prairie township; Andrew \V., born March 18, 1864, now engaged in farming in Ex- celsior township, Sauk county; William H., born April 21, 1867, now farming in Spring- ville township; Sylvia A., born November 29, 1869, now Mrs. D. M. Shoff, of Easton; Evalette, born February 9, 1872, now Mrs. H. Reynolds, of Twin Villey; Frank, born October 18, 1874, now residing with his mother; and Ruby M., born February 15, 1877, now at home. Mr. Colburn passed away at Springville, Adams county, Wis- consin, September 11, 1895. He was a prominent member of John Gillespie Post, G. A. R. He gained his competence through honesty, industry and perseverance, and was an exemplary husband, father and friend. MORITZ BERNHARDT ANACKER. Moritz Bernhardt Anacker, a prosper- ous farmer of Caledonia township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, has an interesting and romantic career. He was born in the village of Herrenbreitungen, Schmalkalden, Hesse Cassel, Germany, May 20, 1845, '^"d is a son of Christopher and Mary (Jaeger) Anacker. The mother died when our sub- ject was only four years old, and the father passed away in 1891, when over sixty years of age. Members of the Anacker family have been prosperous farmers and land own- ers in Herrenbreitungen for a number of centuries, the church at that place contain- ing records of the family as early as the eleventh century. That church, one of the oldest in Europe, was built of stone and slate in 1446, used by both denominations, Lu- therans and Reformers. Martin Luther was born near by. One hundred years pre- vious to that time all of the Anacker family at Herrenbreitungen died of a plague, which depopulated that and two adjacent villages. Their propert}-, however, was taken posses- sion of by descendants of an Anacker whose ancestors had moved to Switzerland about 1 100. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject was Kolus Anacker, a wealthy farmer of Herrenbreitungen, and the grandfather was Henry Anacker, a highly educated and intiuential citizens of that place, who took great pains to search and preserve the rec- ords of his famil}'. Christopher Anacker, the father of our subject, was a man of considerable promi- nence in his community. Besides carrying on a large farm for some years, he operated 678 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the town brewery and public house at Her- renbreitungen, where he filled some official positions. During: the war of 1866 between Prussia and Austria, he favored the Prus- sians, though his king, Frederick William \y, of Hesse-Cassel, was in sympathy with the Austrians. When the king attempted to fly to Switzerland with the war fund of about three million dollars, Mr. Anacker was instrumental in notifying the Prussians, who intercepted the treasure. Some of the Bavarian troops, who were allies of the Austrians, intended to capture ]\Ir. Anacker, because he had refused to sell them beer, and was denounced as the Prussians' friend, but escaped through a ruse of our subject, who di\-erted their attention and served them with beer. The next day, but one, the Bavarians were defeated in battle by the Prussians at Rossdorf. The subject of this sketch recei\'ed only a limited common-school education, Imt be- ing a prec(,>cious youth, he became well in- formed. At the age of thirteen years he went to live with his maternal grandfather, Moritz Jaeger, at Herrenbreitungen, who sent him to the high school in Schmalkal- den, for one year. While there he gained a good knowledge of the French language, and intended studying English, but did not remain long enough for that purpose on ac- count of sickness in the family. Failing to agree with his father and step-mother, Mr. Anacker came to America in 1866, leaving home at night, as he had been drawn as a conscript for the king's cavalry, the "Cuirassiers." One-fourth of the property which he was to inherit from his mother was confiscated by the government, and the rest he w^as beaten out of by his father's recklessness. Diligent efforts were made to apprehend him by the officers at Bremen, where he was delayed for a few days before taking a vessel. By the assist- ance of friends he succeeded in eluding the officers, though the vessel was searched after he embarked. Upon landing in New York he went to Rockford, Illinois, and soon after- ward came to Portage, Wisconsin, where he secured em])loyment in a hotel. About a year later he commenced working as a farm laborer in Caledonia township, and spent four years in that wav, carefully sa\'ing his \Aages until he was able to stock a rented farm, which he operated for three years. In 1875 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm on section 2^. Cal- edonia township, all of which was wild land when he purchased it, to which he has since added one hundred and forty acres. He spent four days in clearing a track through the woods to the spot where he wished to build his house. The place is now well im- proved with good buildings, is under a high state of cultivation, and watered by living springs. He has given considerable atten- tion to the breeding of Jersey cattle and other live stock, but in 1896 he had the misfortune to lose nearly all his stock by a contagious disease. However, he now has several head of fine thorough-bred Jersey and Durham cattle upon his farm. In the fall of 1871, having unexpectedly made arrangements to take possession of a rented farm, Mr. Anacker found it neces- sary to secure a housekeeper. The only young lady whom he considered eligible for that important position was a distant cousin, Miss Minnie Anacker, whom he had met but once or twice, but satisfactory arrange- ments were soon made, and they were united in marriage December 10, 1871, since which time they have traveled life's joirrney to- gether in harmony and tranquiUty. She was born in Herrenbreitungen, Germany, June 30, 1852, and the following year was brought to this country by her parents, Gus- tave and Sabina (Eberlein) Anacker, who settled in Lewiston township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where her father died in COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 679 the fall of 1880, aged sixty-two years, her mother, L)eceml)er 6, 1868, aged tifty-one. Her paternal grandfather, George Anacker, was a brother of the grandfather of our sub- ject, Henry Anacker. To our subject and his wife have been born fifteen children, of whom two died in infancy. The others are Charles W. A., now a resident of Lime Springs, Iowa ; Christopher ^Vilham Otto, and Mary, wife of William S. Walter, also of Lime Sorings ; Minnie, wife of William S. H. Johnson, of Portage, Wisconsin; Amelia, of Lime Springs, \o\\a ; Anna, of Portage, \Visconsin : and Rosie, Bernhardt, Gustave, Henry, Edward, Margaret and Leonard, all at home. They also have three grandchildren. All of the children have been given good district-school educations. Mr. Anacker usually supports the Demo- cratic party, is an advocate of the gold standard, and keeps well informed on the questions of the day. He is widely and fa- vorably known, and has a host of warm friends in his community. ROBERT NEWTON BARTHOLOMEW. Robert Newton Bartholomew, Lodi, Wisconsin, is the oldest living pioneer of the Lodi valley, and through a long and use- ful career has been one of the most influen- tial citizens of this part of the county. He is a thoroughly honorable and upright man, kind and sympathetic in his spirit, and his entire business career has been marked by an unswerving integrity. He properly belongs to a record of the representative men of Co- lumbia county. Mr. Bartholomew was born at Lexing- ton, McLean county, Illinois, October 8, 1834, and is a son of Marston Clark and Mary Hopkins Bartholomew. His father was born at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and his ancestors came from Burford, England, where the Bartholomew chapel has stood for fi\'e hundred years. William Bartholomew came to this country about 1690, and built a mill at Stony Creek, Connecticut, and there his descendants are still represented by sev- eral active and pushing business men. Gen- eral Joseph Bartholomew, the grandfather of the subject of this article, was born in New Jersey, March 15, 1766, and when he was two years old his family moved to Laurel Hill, Pennsvlvania. As soon as he was old enough to enter the Continental army he became a soldier, and fought against the In- dians and the Tories on the Pennsylvania frontiers. About 1795 he floated down the Ohio river and settled at "the falls," on the Kentucky shore, near the present site of Louisville. He remained there several years, and then crossed over into Indiana and en- gaged in farming near Charleston. In 181 1 he was appointed a colonel in the Indiana troops, and served as second in command under General Harrison. He was wounded ir. the arm at the battle of Tippeca- noe, and never wholly recovered from its effects. On account of his conspicu- ous bravery in that battle he was ap- pointed brevet brigadier-general. When General Zach Taylor was besieged at Fort Harrison he joined a regiment raised for his relief and served as a private. At Vincennes he was placed in command of the expedition, owing to the illness of General Gibson, and it is said that the Indians fled as soon as they heard their old enemy was in command of the approaching forces. As a consequence of his brilliant conduct of this expedition he was made a major-general. In 1830 he moved to McLean county, Illinois. The country was then a wilderness and, in conse- quence of the outbreak of the Black Hawk war two years later, he built a block house, which served as a shelter for the inhabitants of the country until the troubles were ended. He died in November, 1840, on the day 680 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. William Henry Harrison was elected presi- dent of the United States. General Bar- tholomew was distinguished for bravery, hospitality and the most marked reluctance to discourse concerning his own experiences. He was a man of much character and ability, and serx'ed in the legislatures of Pennsyl- vania and Indiana. Marston Clark Bartholomew came to Wisconsin in March, 1845, and made claim to land in section 22, of the town of Lodi, Columbia county. At the land ofifice, then located at Mineral Point, he was informed that the land had already been deeded, and he finally paid two dollars and fifty cents an acre to perfect the title. He found the nearest white settlements at Fort Winnebago, Madison, \\'yocena, Columbus and Sauk Prairie. His family came on in September, and the only others in the town of Lodi that season were his brother, George M. Barthclo- rr.ew. Rev. Harry Maynard and ^^'illiam Simcoe, with their families. He bought three hundred and twenty acres, and it is still in the possession of the immediate fam- ily. He died January i, 1 881, at the age of seventy-five years, and had lived a long and useful life. He served as chairman of the town, and filled other public ofiices. He was a Whig and in later life a Republican. At the age of fifty-six he took up arms in de- fense of the Republic, and served in the Civil v>'ar. After taking part in se\'eral battles lie was severely wounded at Antietam, and finally discharged on account of disability. His wife, Mary (Hopkins) Bartholomew, died April 17, 1886, at the age of eighty 3ears. She had enjoyed good health to a time close to her fatal illness. She was born lit Dover, Delaware, and her ancestor, Rob- en Hopkins, came into Delaware from England by way of Canada. 1 here he ac- quired a large tract of land under the orig- inal Penn purchase, and deeded a portion to his son, John Hopkins. Robert Hopkins, a son of John, removed to Shelbyville, Ken- tucky, about 1 8 16, and subsequently to Jef- fersonville, where he died in 1830 at an ad- vanced age. Mrs. Bartholomew became the mother of eight children, of whom two died in infancy; Christiana, the widow of H. C. Maynard, of Lodi; Nancy Elizabeth, the wife of Philip Ringsdorp, of Lodi ; Robert N. ; Joseph M. died in Milwaukee, March 8^ 1S98; Mary C, the widow of Anson Ack- erman, and lives in Kansas; John M., a sol- dier in Company A, Seventh Wisconsin Vol- unteer Lifantry, a part of the famous Iron Brigade, was killed August 28, 1862, at the opening of the battle of Gainesville. Jo- seph M. and his father ser\-ed in the same company. Robert N. Bartholomew has lived in Co- lumbia county since he was eleven years old with the exception of two years spent in Kan- sas during the prevalence of the border war. He went to that state' in 1856 and jM'e- empted land in Bourbon county, and served as a member of the Kansas State Militia, and saw John Brown several times, but was nev- er associated with that noted leader. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pur- suits, and is one of the most respected and successful farmers of the county. He was married in 185^ to Miss Priscilla B. Eells, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Eells, and a native of Hanover, Massachusetts. Her father was a blacksmith and lived some years in Lodi. He moved later in his life to Gal- latin, Missouri, where he tlied in 1879, and his widow ten years later. Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew are the par- ents of seven children, and have seventeen grandchildren. All but t\Ar) of their children are living in Lodi. Ransom G. is in Chicago, and Martha E. in Wvocena. Marston Clark is on the old homestead farm. Mary D. married James L. Pollock; and Xellie M., S. L. Fellows. Albert G. and John B. are in. business in Lodi. COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY. CSl Mr. Bartholoniew lias always been a Democrat, and has taken a iji'oniinent part in the wnrkin^- of the partv. He has served on the ciinnty ci>mmittee. and has been dele- g"ate to the state ciunention. He and his wife helped to organize the Uni\ersalist church of Lodi, and he has al\va}-s strongly supported that organization. He is now one of its trustees, and has been its moderator from the beginning. He and his wife have carried the spirit of their faith into their lives and are noted for their kind antl bene\- oient .spirit, their open-handed generosity, and their ready sui)port of that which tends to the ])ublic welfare. He has 1)een promi- nently identified with the ^lasonic organiza- tion, and belongs to the Lodi Valley Lodge, the Baraboo ^^alley Chapter and Command- ery, Knights Templar, and the \\'isci>nsin Consistory at Milwaukee. He was master of the Lodi lodge for eighteen years previous to 1897. Mr. Barthokjmew is highly esteemed in every relation of life, ami has shown liim- self a genuine man throughout his long- career. ISAAC WARREN MORLEY. Isaac Warren Morley, a representative and prominent citizen of Excelsior township, residing on section 29, is one of the pioneers of Sauk county, and his name is inseparably connected with its agricultural and educa- tional interests. He was born in Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, September 2, 1820, a son of Thomas and Lillis (Russell) Morley, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectivel}'. His paternal ancestors were of English extraction, and the first to come to the new world was a passenger on the May- flower. The grandfather, Thomas Morley, \\as a man of unusual physical development and was a soldier of the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. He spent his last years upon a farm at Kirtland, Ohio, where he died in his eighty-fifth year. His wife, Lucy, had preceded him to the world bevond a few months. Our subject's ma- ternal grandfather. Abel Russell, was one of the pioneers of ]\Ientor, Ohio, and the first town clerk of that place. He died on his farm there at the age of eighty years. About 1812 the father of our subject re- mo\'ed with his family to the Western Re- serve of Ohio, and Ijecame one of the first settlers of Lake county, where he followed farming for many years. He died in the spring of 1885 at the advanced age of nine- ty-three years. He was always healthy and vigorous up to the time of his tleath. His wife died a number of 3'ears previous, at the age of fifty-four. The early education of our suliject was obtained in the public schools of his native state, and for (.me term he attended the acad- emy there. At the age of eighteen he com- menced teaching school, and later spent four years at the Western Reserve Seminary in Kirtland, Ohio, where James A. Carfield some times participated in the public exer- cises. After completing the prescribed course at that institution he successfully engaged in teaching for a numlier of years. In 1849 Mr. Morley made a trip to Sauk count}', Wisconsin, and entered four hun- dred and eighty acres of fine farming land and 20, Excelsior township, and the fol- lowing year took u\) his residence upon his property. He improved about one hundred an.d sixty acres of this land and lived there for a number of years, Init since 1883 has resided upon his nresent farm on section 29. the same township, where he has one hun- dred and eight\' acres of fine farming land near the Baraboo river, \\hich affords ex- cellent advantages for stock raising. He has erected good buildiuL's upon his jilace and made many niher ini]>ro\ements which aild 682 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY greatly to its value and attractive appear- ance. In company with his Ijrother, L\inan K. INIorley, he dro\e about one thousand liead of merino sheep from Ohio to Sauk count}-, in 1850, it being one of the largest flocks ever introduced into the count}-. 1 hey also drove several, head of horses and other stock. For some years our subject bred nierino sheep, but for some time past has given his attention to Shropshire sheep, and ia his present flock has about one hundred thoroughbreds and high grade stock. He is also interested in breeding good cattle. As a farmer and stock raiser he has met with well-deserved success. In 1844 Mr. Morley wedded Miss Mari- ette Smith, a daughter of Elijah Smith, of Kirtland, Ohio. She was born in that place, and died in Sauk county, Wisconsin, De- cember 26, 1898, at the age of seventy- four years. The children born of this union were l\iary, wife of Rufus C. Cole, of Ivedwood Falls, Alinnesota; Alvah H., who died in Ul- rich. South Dakota, in the spring of 1898, at the age of forty-seven years; Lucius W., a resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota ; Thomas E., a farmer of Excelsior township, Sauk county; Harvey ^^'., on the home farm; Leaphe, now at home; and Minnie, at home. Mr. Morley also has nine grandchil- dren. In 1 86 1 Mr. Morley was elected the first county superintendent of schools, and ac- ceptably filled that office for four years. He had previously acted as town superintend- ent for se\-eral years, and f(jr a numl.ier of years after coming to the county continued to engage in teaching school. He assisted in organizing the Sauk County Agricultui-al So- - ciety in 1856, and has been an exhibitor at nearly all the annual fairs, where he has re- ceived many premiums on his live stock. He cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, in 1844, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its sianch su]iporters. He was one (-if the found- ers of the Congregational church of Reeds- burg, now disbanded, was trustee of the saiue many years, and was a memlier of the official board during its entire existence. For some time he was also an active mem- ber of Reedsburg Grange, P. of H., and helped to organize the Good Templars ledge in Narrow Prairie township, now dis- banded. His life is exemplary in many re- spects and he has ever supported those in- terests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commenda- tion. He is a strictly temperate man, ne\-er using tobacco or licjuor in any f(_irm. and has the esteem of all who know him. GEORGE ROSWELL COOK. George Roswell Cook, a progressive farmer of Dell Prairie township, has been a resident of Adams county many years, and is well known and highly respected. He was born in Steuben county. New A'ork, April 30, 1855, and was the son of Orange and Rosella (Donaldson) Cook. Orange Cook was a farmer by occupa- tion and resided in the eastern states for a number of years, and the family moved to Springville township, Adanis count}-, in 1861. The father died in Steuben county, N'ew York, about 1865, and the mother re- sided on the homestead in Adams county until her death. May 19, 1869. She was laid to rest in Olin cemetery. Our subject received a liberal education, having attended the district school and the high school at Kilbourn, and spent one year in Canisteo Academy, Steuben county, New York. At the age of twenty-five years he returned to Marathon and Lincoln counties, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the lumber- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY ing business for aliout four years. He then went to Springvale township, Adams county, where he owned land which lie had purchased when seventeen years of age. and resided on the farm and added \-arious improvements. He disposed of his land in Springxille town- ship, in 1890, and located on his farm in section 8. m Dell Prairie townshi]). which he has improved until it is now one of the best culti\-atetl in the \icinity. He is a most progressive farmer and was one of the first to advocate dairying in Adams county. He has met with success in that line, and his es- tate is kept in the best condition, and good residence, barn and outbuildings ni;u'k his financial success and care. One hundred ami twenty-five acres of land are under cultiva- tion and he has about twenty head iif milch cows, anil in that branch alone is gaining a comfortable competence. He raises stock, and all grain he raises is used to feed the stock on the farm. Mr. Cook was married, March 25, 188^, to Emma Brandenburg, daughter of Chris- tian Brandenburg, who located in Ouincy, Adams county, a number of years ago, and was one of the early settlers of that region. Mr. anil ^^Irs. Cook are the ])arents of fi\'e children, all of whom are at home, as fol- lows: Carl, born September 7, 1886; Grace, born November 2, 1887: Effie, born July 3, 1890; Earl, born Xoveniber 21. 1893; and Bessie, born December 21, 1895. Mr. Cook has been called to fill various township offices of trust, including chairman of the town board, township clerk, and jus- tice of the peace. He is a Rei^ublican, and interested in the welfare of his party and country, but does not take an active part in political affairs. He is first vice-president of the Adahis County Agricultural Associa- tion, and the society is at present in a flour- ishing condition, and .\dams county is fast coming to the front as a thriving agricult- ural district. To such men as Mr. Cook the county owes a debt of gratitude for the part they have taken in the upbuilding of the bet- ter interests of the vicinity, and the active ii.'terest displayed in all matters of local im- portance. GEORGE W. JEXKIXS, M. D. George W. Jenkins, AI. D., has been identified with the interests of Kilbourn City and vicinity for nearly a half-century, and is one of the oldest representatives of his profession in the state of Wisconsin. In both public and ])ri\ate life his career has been such as to inspire the confidence and good will of the people and no citizen of that thriving village is held in higher regard by the communit}'. Dr. Jenkins was bijrn in the town of Du- anesburg, Schenectady county, Xew \ork, September 19, 1824. His father, William A. Jenkins, was a nati\'e of Long Island, whose grandfather, Christopher Jenkins, had set- tled there in colonial days. The last named was an English sea captain. His wife, whose given name was Abbe, was of Welsh lineage. Their son, Christopher, the father ol William A. Jenkins, was also a sea cap- tain. He was a \ery athletic man and could lift an ap.chor weighing eight hundred pounds. William A. Jenkins spent most of his life on a farm in Schenectady county, Xew York. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Jenkins, was remotely de- scended from the same family as her hus- band. Her mother was a relative of Hamil- ton Fish, the distinguished Xew York statesman. After leaving the public school at Quaker Street, a \illage near his nati\'e place, the subject of this notice engaged in teaching. A little later he took up the study of medicine with Dr. William H. Brigham, of Charles- ton, Xew ^'ork, at which place he spent about 684 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. four years, a part of that period l)eing- em- ployed in teaching-. He afterward attended the medical departm.ent of Columbia College in New York City, from which institution he received his diploma in 1851. Having determined to seek his fortune in the .west, he joined the late Jonathan Bowman and one or two other gentlemen from Charles- ton, New York, and came directly to Wis- consin. Upon arriving- at Alilwaukee the party hired a team and drove by way of Madison to Delton. Six months later Dr. Jenkins began practice at Newport, a flour- ishing village on the Wisconsin river, at the mouth of Dell creek. He remained about ten years at that location, witnessing- its de- velopment to a town of fifteen hundred peo- ple and its subsequent abandonment by the removal of most of the buildings and in- habitants to the present village of Kilbourn Cit}'. This place was entirely unsettletl when he arrived in Columbia ciiunty, being a part of the Indian reservation. Since lo- cating here he has been continuously engaged in active practice, meeting with phenomenal success, and the demand for his services ex- tending through several counties. For some years he was accustomed to ride on horse- back, often fording- streams and lareaking roads through sloughs and marshes, some of his trips occupying several days' time. Though he sometimes reached his patients bespattered with niud and water, his ser- vices were none the less appreciated. In 1863 he became associated with Dr. H. C. Markham and they opened a drug store at Kilbourn City. After a time he purchased his, partner's interest and still carries on the business. When the business part of the town was destroyed by fire in 1866 he promptly replaced the original store with a substantial lirick building, joining with his contemporaries in establishing a brick-kiln, by which means the cost of material for their buildiiigs was materiallv decreased. For a number of years past he has been a surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road, and is a member of the National Rail- way Surgeons' Association. He is a member of the Columbia County Medical Associa- tion, the Wisconsin State Medical Associa- tion, and occupies an enviable position among his professional brethren, fessional brethren. The Doctor was married, in 1856, to Miss Mary Markham, daughter of Sidney D. Markham, of Colosse, New York. They have one daughter, Kate M. The family is connected with the Presbyterian church, and the Doctor is prominent in the Masonic or- der. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and chapter at Kilbourn, in which he has filled the principal offices. He is a member of Fort Winnebago Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar, at Portage, and also iden- tified with Milwaukee Consistory. In early life he was a \Mng, but he has lieen a Re- publican since the organization of that party. He has avoided active participation in poli- tics, his only official service having been in the capacity of town superintendent of schools and that of health officer for the vil- lag-e of Kilbourn City. The Doctor relates some interesting rennniscences of early days in Wisconsin, some of which afford apt illustrations of the urjcoutli manners, con\-iviaI habits and crude biU hearty hospitalit\- which were charac- teristic of the pioneers. Among his early associates at Newport, with whom he board- ed for some time, was Colonel Joseph Baile\% afterwards fan-ious as the savior of General Bank's fleet on the Red river during the Civil war. Another early acquaintance was the notorious fur trader, fared S. ^^'als\vorth (a brother of Judge ^^'alsworth), who kept a country tavern on the road leading from Portage to the pineries. He was famous alike for his hos]jitality, con\-ivialitv and good humor. At the sessions of the court in Mad- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 685 ison, one of liis favorite amusements con- sisted in ridini;- a horse through tlie court room; but he always cheerfully paid the fine imposed for this breach of decorum, consid- ering the fun was well, worth the money. At the general election of 1852 the Doctor joined a party which drove to Lewiston, the nearest polling place, to deposit their ballots, a four-horse team being employed to trans- port the party and give proper dignity to the expedition. A numljer of taverns along the line were liberally patronized and some members of the party became quite hilar- ious. On the way home they were passed by a stranger, who made some slighting remark concerning the "four-horse team." He was overtaken at the next tavern, which hap- pened to be Walsworth's, where the driver of the wagon promptly resented the insult by knocking him down with his fist, after wdiich everybody shook hands in token of friend- ship and the stranger set up the drinks for the party. \VILLIAM WARD. \\'illiam Ward, a popular conductor on the Madison division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, has been connected w-ith that corporation for a quarter of a cen- tury. He was born in Freehold, New Jer- sey, January 6, 1858, a son of Michael and Bridget (Brehany) Ward, natives of Ire- land. Having lost his parents during his boyhood, Michael Ward came to the United States in early life and locatetl in Monmouth county, New Jersey, where he made his home until April, 1873. He then came to Footville, Wisconsin, where he lived upon a farm until called from this life, Ajiril 5, 1899, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife died July 27, 1895, at the age of fifty- seven years, and both were laid to rest in St. Joseph's cemetery at Janesville, Wisconsin. They were devout members of the Catholic church, and most estimable people. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject died in Ireland, but his wife, Mrs. Mary Brehany, came to this country and died in Footville, Wisconsin, December 2, 1890, at the age of eighty-two years. William Ward, of this sketch, is indebted to the public schools of Marlboro, New Jer- sey, for his educational privileges. In 1873 he came with his parents to Wisconsin, and soon afterward began work for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, as water boy, and served as brakeman for that company for one year, after which he en- tered the employ of the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company. He steadily worked his way upward until, in 1880, he was promoted to conductor, and now has charge of freight trains on the Madison di- \-ision of the Northwestern Railroad, run- ning between Baraboo and \Vinona. During his entire railroad career he has never met with an accident or injury, and is to-day one of the most trusted emplo3'es of the company. On the 6th of February, 1882, Air. Ward was united in marriage with Miss Katie Petted, who was born in Newtown, Con- necticut, and came with her parents, Michael and Mary Petted, to Sauk county, Wiscon- sin, locating in Fairfield township. The fa- ther, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Baraboo, October 16, 1896, aged sixty-eight years, and his wife died December 3, 1893, aged sixty-five years. They were born in Ireland, but were reared in Connecticut. To Mr. and Mrs. \\'ard have been b<-irn four chil- dren, namely: Mamie, Cassie, Willie and Jiihn. The famil}^ are connected with St. Jiiseph's Catholic church, of Baraboo, and Mrs. Ward is now treasurer of the Ladies' Sodality. In 1898 Mr. Ward built a pleasant resi- dence on Second street, Baraboo, which is 686 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. an ornament to that part of tlie city, and there the tan:ily now reside. He is a charter member of Baraboo Division, O. R. C. in v.'hich he has filled all the principal offices, and is a Democrat in political sentiment. Although he takes a deep interest in all pub- lic questions, he has little time or inclination for their as-itation. JOSEPH Bg\\'EN. Joseph Bowen. who for the past twenty years has tilled the soil in Colburn township, is one of the substantial farmers of Adams county. He engag^es in general farming, and is well known as an earnest, industrious and honest man, ready at all times to further the interests of his community, and the coun- try at large. He is an ex-soldier, who bra\^ed the dangers of war to preserve the Union, and during his ser\'ice was in the thickest of the fra}'. He is Iijyal and pro- gressive and well merits his success. Mr. Bowen was born in Erie, Pennsyl- vania, June 1 8, 1836, and was the son of John and Margaret (McLean) Bowen. His father was a farmer by occupation in New York state. Our subject was limited as to his educational advantages, and has gleaned his information outside of the school room. He was bound out to a farmer for three years, at the early age of twelve years, and worked for farmers until he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and L'orty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, August 10, 1862. He was in the Army of the Poto- mac, and courageously entered all the battles and engagements in which that army partici- pated. He was discharged May 31, 1865, after nearly three years' service. After leav- ing the army he came to Columbia county, \\'isconsin, where he engaged in farming two years, and in 1868 located in Strong's Prai- rie township, Adams county, and homestead- ed one hundred and twenty acres of land, and purchased forty acres. He conducted this farm ten years, and in 1878 moved to Col- burn township, Adams county. He owns eighty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. It is a model little farm, and equal to any in the vicinity. With the ex- ception of the three years spent in the army service he has devoted his life to the pur- suit of agriculture, and has gained a knowl- edge of his vocation which is indeed valua- ble. Mr. Bowen was married, December :;S, 1859, to Samantha Scott, daughter of David C. and Elizabeth (Fuller) Scott, of Arbour Creek, Pennsylvania. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, as fol- lows : Ida, now Mrs. M. Freeland, of Strong's Prairie; Ada, now Mrs. H. Bloom- field, of Strong's Prairie; Lil)l)ie, Ijurn March, 1866, now Mrs. H. W'inslow. of Plainfield ; Josephine, now Mrs. P. Mc- Gregor, of Hancock; Josie D., a farmer of Colburn township; Albert, born in 1873, now farming in Colburn township; Willie, born in 1875, now residing at home; and Fred, born in 1877, now farming in Colburn township. Ida and Ada are twins, and were born in January, 1861, and Josephine and Josie D. are twins, and were born in 1871. Mr. Bowen was a memljcr of Hancock Post, No. 150, G. A. R. He is a Republican in political sentiment, but does not take an acti\-e part in the affairs nf bis party. He is public-spirited and enji.iys a comfortable competence which he has gained by the judi- cious use of his time and the resources which came to him. His career while in the service of his country is one which he can review with justifiable pride, as well as his career as a private citizen. He defended the Union faithfully, and has ever displayed the same characteristic in the defense of his commu- nity and friends, and will always be found standing on the side of right and justice. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 687 STEWART C. BELL. Stewart C. Bell, one of the best citizens of ColumlMa county, livins^ in the town of Hampden, was born in Brookfield, Wiscon- sin, June 1 8, 1846, and is a son of Francis and Margaret (Coulter) Bell, natives of northern L-eland. Bell Tavern, where he was born, is quite an historic spot. The senior Bell kept the tavern for many years in the pioneer days, and entertained at his table many of the old nobilities, such as Solomon Juneau and L P. ^\^'dker. For additiijnal information concerninsj them the reader is referred to the sketch headed Robert Bell. Mr. Bell recei\'ed his preliminary school- ing at hiinie, and was a student fnr a time in the Spencerian Business College at Milwau- kee. In 1866 he crossed the plains overland, intending to go to California, but stopped in Nevada to take a position as porter with a wholesale supply house. He proved so well adapted to the business, cjuick witted and re- liable in all his transactions, that he rose from position to position with remarkable rapidity, and presently became the head of the house, having as his principal assistant the present governor of that state, Rheinhold Saddler. They were \'ery intimate friends, and their acf|uaintance still continues. In 1869 Mr. Bell relinquished his Nevada in- terests, returned to this state and in com- pany with his brother, Robert, bought a farm in Columbia county, and here he has kept his residence to the ])resent writing. In 1876 the brothers divided their joint holdings, and each has increased his real es- tate interests, and the subject of this sketch now owns a well appointed and highly cult- ivated farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres. It has fine buildings, and is one of the choice farms of the county. Stewart C. Bell and Mirza L. Phillips v.'ere married November 15, 1869. She is a daughter of Eli Phillips, of Brookfield, and was born May 25, 1847, in the town of Brookfield. Her parents were nati\'es of Massachusetts, and the Phillips belong to an old colonial family. Her father saw W'ashington's funeral, and rememliered see- ing him more than once. He had a family of five children, all of whom are living: Jerome E. Phillips, at Clinton, bnva; Homer, Fountain Prairie, Wisconsin ; Mon- roe and Eugene, Omro, Wisconsin ; and Mirza, the wife of Mr. Bell. ^Ir. and Mrs. Bell are the parents of three children: Frank E., a teacher and a graduate of the Oshkosh Normal : Alma May, at home ; and Harvey B., now a normal student in Osh- kosh. Our suljject is a Democrat, and though he li\es in a Republican neighbor- hood, has been'justice of the peace, assessor, town clerk and chairman of the town board. He is secretary of the town insurance com- pany, and was a potent factor in its organi- zation. He was census enumerator for 1900, and is the government crop reporter for this section. He was the prime factor in se- curing route No. i, free mail delivery, Co- lumbus, ^\'isconsin. He wrote the congress- man, got u]) petitions, and stuck to it until he secured what he was working for. He has always been interested in public progress, and an untiring worker for every measure calculated to promote the general welfare. With perfect propriety he may be classed among the leading men of Columbia county. WILLIAM RUSSELL CHIPMAN. William Russell Chipman. a bright and progressive farmer of the town of Leeds, Columbia county, \\'isconsin, has long since learned that the noblest life that can be lived is tliat which opens the way to the heart of nature, and keeps a man far from the tempta- tions of the crowded pavements and the 688 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. vices of the great city. Upon liis broad acres he can be honest, and live true to Iiis best self. Air. Chipman is a true type of the best American farmer, upright and manly, indus- trious in his habits and a kindly heart. Mr. Chipman was born in this town- ship May lo, 1863, and is a son of George and Martha (Taylor) Chipman. George Chipman was a native of Westminster, Ver- mont, and his ancestors came from England. They settled in Massachusetts long previous to the Revolutionary war, and some of their representatives were men of considerable im- portance in colonial affairs. Ebenezer Chip- man, the father of George Chipman, was a farmer and lived in Vermont the greater part of his life, and died in Milton, Wisconsin, at the age of seventy years. 'George Chip- man left Vermont and settled in Wiscon- sin in 1848. He lived near Janesville a number of years, and about i860 moved into Columbia county, where he bought a farm in the town of Leeds. In 1867 he bought a second farm near Leeds Center. This he greatly improved, put up fine build- ings and brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. Since 1893 he has been living a re- tired life in the village of Poynette, where he is now making his home, at the age of seventy-two. His estimable wife is in her sixty-seventh year. She is a daughter of George Taylor, who was a farmer in Ver- mont and Canada, and in his later years a resident of Cashton, Monroe county, Wis- consin, where he died at the age of eighty- two. George Chipman and his wife were the parents of two children: William Rus- sell and Mabel., now the wife of J. F. For- rest, a farmer in the town of Arlington. William Russell Chipman has always Hved in the town of Leeds, and is a fair representative of the "boys of old Colum- bia." He attended the district school, and spent some time in the Sun Prairie high school, and then took the shorter agricult- ural course at the University of Wisconsin. He has had charge of the home farm since 1884, and has developed into a broad-mind- ed and progressive farmer. He gives his chief attention to live stock. He feeds ex- tensively for the Chicago markets, and sends forward every year a number of cattle and sheep. He is a man of public spirit and was the chief promoter of the Leeds Telephone Company, an organization recently effected, to afford the neighboring farmers communi- cation with Madison and several of the ad- joining towns. He is the president of the company and has largely made it a decided success. Mr. Chipman and Miss Jennie Roberts were married in 1893. Mrs. Chipman is a daughter of David G. and Mary (Jones) Roberts, residents of the town of Leeds, where she was born. Her father was born in Caernarvonshire, Wales, and came to Co- lumbia, Wisconsin, in 1847, when he was still a boy. He lived in early life at Cam- bria, and later moved into the town of Leeds, where he died February 8, 1887, at the age of fifty. He was a son of David Roberts, who died on the ocean while com- ing to the United States. His widow came on to Columbia county, and settled in the town of Cortland. She was seventy years old when she died. Mrs. Mary Roberts died in September, 1897, at the age of fifty-- seven. She was born in Wales, and was brought to this country in her infancy. Her father, William Jones, settled near Utica, New York, where he died at the age of eighty. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Morris, and lived to be forty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were among the most highly respected people of the town of Leeds, and were the parents of five children : Jennie, now Mrs. Chipman; George, of St. Croix county, Wisconsin ; Milton is at Wash- ington, D. C, an employe of the census bureau ; Herbert, a traveling salesman and COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. (i89 resident of tlie town of Leeds; and Edwin, of the same community. Mr. and Mrs. William R. Cliipman are the parents of two bright and charming cliiidren, Harold and Mary. They are mem- bers of the Leeds Congregational church, and are highh- esteemed by all who know them. He is a Republican, and is a mem- ber of the county committee. He formerly had a deep interest in the Prohibition party, but of late years has been identified with the Republican organization, particularly on all questions that relate to national affairs. He is now serving as justice of the peace. GEORGE HARRINGTON. George Harrington, one of the pioneers of Adams county, Wisconsin, is a respected resident of the village of Easton. He was born in the city of New York, February i6, 1834. His father, John Harrington, was a mechanic and worked for many years in New York City, and died there in the spring of 1844. His wife, Mary, died in 1843, and both parents were buried in the city of New York. To this worthy couple six children were born, three of whom are still living, namely : Susan, now Mrs. Young, of Staten Island; Mar}^, now Mrs. W. R. Marsh, of Rahway, New Jersey ; and George, the subject of our present article. George Harrington was left at about the age of ten years without parents, and was taken in charge by relatives. At the age of fourteen years he went to work on a farm near Oxford, in Orange county. New York, where he remained three years. He received a preliminary education between his tenth and fourteenth years. He has been a great reader and observer, however, and has managed to pick up a fund of practical knowledge that has stood him in good stead on many occasions, ^^'hen he was seventeen years old he returned to New York City and engaged with an oysterman, fishing in Long Island Sound, and taking the oysters to New York City. He was about three years on the water, sailing from New York to Salem, I'hiladelphia, Richmond, Virginia, and other points. In 1855 Mr. Harrington left New York for Wisconsin, and located in Columbia count}', near Portage, and lived with a farmer at Silver Lake about nine months. In the winter of 1856-57 he was in the pineries along the Yellow river. In No- vember, 1855, he entered a tract of land comprising eighty acres, in the town of Easton, but did not reside upon it until 1857, when he located upon the land and began to improve it. This land he held un- til 1865, at the time of his discharge from the service, when he sold it and purchased a farm on section 32. This farm he held for nineteen years, and finally traded it for property in the village of Easton. Mr. Harrington enlisted August 16, 1864, in Company K, Thirty-eighth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and was imme- diately assigned to service at Petersburg. He remained on duty there until April 5, 1865. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C, in June, 1865. Mr. Harrington was married in Febru- ary, 1862, to Mahala, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (De Remmer) Algard, of Ore- gon, Dane county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Har- rington died August 31, 1892, and rests in the Easton cemetery. In political sentiment our subject is a Republican and takes an active interest in public affairs. He has served as supervisor of his township, and for fourteen years has lield the oftice of school treasurer. He takes an interest in the advancement of the cause of education, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all men regardless of political 690 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. bias. He is a ^ood Christian citizen and a man of sterling worth. He is a member of the Ennis Reed Post, G. A. R., at White Creek. GILBERT B. VAX ALSTINE. Gilbert B. Van Alstine, who is no^v li\'- ing a peaceful and quiet life in tlie town of Newport, Columbia count)-, hail a varied and eventful career until after he had reached middle age and more. He was born at New fane, Onondaga count}-. New York, P"ebruary 22, 1832. He was educated in the common schools of New York, and at Kingsville College, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he attended until he had nearly fin- ished the full course. He made his first in- dependent venture for himself when about seventeen years old, and went on the great lakes as a sailor. He was a fresh water sailor for six years, and then he sought em- ployment on the ocean. He engaged on the whaler "Monongahela," which was built and owned in New Bedford, Massachusetts, but fitted out and operated from New York City. He was on the ocean some four years, two of which he spent on a whafing expe- dition, and two engaged in the coasting trade. He had trying experiences, but came through them all safe and sound. He was wrecked on the coast of Patagonia, and with a few companions was cast upon a barren shore. After enduring every sort of priva- tion they were rescued by the "Four Sover- eigns," and taken to Valparaiso, Chili, South America. While he was a sailor on the lakes the ship in which he was engaged ran into the brig "Blossom," and sent it to the bottom almost immediatel}'. More than two hundred lives were lost and the scenes of horror then witnessed will never leave his memory. Mr. Van Alstine finally left the ocean, and was a lumberman for several years, win- ning considerable success. In 1866 he came to Kilbourn City and took a position as en- gineer with Hindes & Drinker. In 1870 he located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the town of Newport. This he has greatly improved in every way. He now has a fine farm and home buildings, and ninety acres under cultivation. He added to this from time to time until, in 1886, he was the owner of a half-section of valuable land. He sold that year small tracts of land, and made substantial imi)rovements on what he retained nearer town. John and Harriet (Blake) Van Alstine, the parents of the subject of this article, were prominent people in their eastern home. Her father was born March 7, 1797, and was an old-line Whig, always opposed to e\-ery form of monopoly, and in his last years a Republican. The Blakes were an educated family, and their daughter Harriet was fitted for teaching school. Thej- came to Ohio at an early day, then to Wisconsin, where the father died in Adams county May 16, 1874. The mother was born July, 1806, and died October 12, 1874. In politics Gilbert Van Alstine has fol- lowed in his father's steps and voted with the Republican part}'. He is now a member of the Reform party. He does not belong to any neighboring church, and holds the faith of Swedenborg as his interpretation of religion. In i860 he was married to Amelia V. Rea, a daughter of Walter C. and Mary A. (Pinkerton) Rea. She was born November 4, 1840, at Portville, Cattaraugus county. New York, and was educated at the local academy, from which she graduated. The children of Gilbert B. and Mrs. Van Alstine (all living) are: Florence E., born March 16, 1862, now the wife of Edward Kenney, proprietor of a large dairy farm at Rochester, Minnesota; Gilbert E., Jr., born October 11, 1866, married Mabel Flan- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 691 ag-an, of Kilbourn, is an engineer and car- penter living in Kilbourn; ]Mary Coraline, born February 4, 1869, now the wife of Frank Kingsley, farmer in the town of Newport, Columbia county; Byron B., born August 4, 1 87 1, married Anna Bieter, of Mantorville, Minnesota, and is an engineer living near ^^lantorville ; John Frederick, born December 4, 1873, married Maud Kingsly and engaged by a milling company in Minneapolis; \\'alter C. (twin of John F.), born December 4, 1S73, married Helen Toverson, is farming and resides in Kil- bourn ; Guy Earlscourt, born August 24, 1881. now in Dakota; his Imme is in ]\Iinne- aj-olis. Gilbert B. \'an Alstine enlisted in 1861 (ninety days' service) in Company A, Third New York Cavalry. This regiment was re- organized and Mr. \'an Alstine came west to Wisconsin. He re-enlisted, February 2, 1864, in Company A, Forty-ninth Regi- ment Infantry Volunteers, and did duty in Missouri. MRS. ELECTA PAGE LE\\TS. Mrs. Electa Page Lewis, widow of Rev. John Lewis, and a highly-esteemed resi- dent of Baraboo, Wisconsin, is a representa- tive of two families which bore an active and prominent part in molding the character and sentiment of the early settlers of this state. She was born in Coventry, Connect- icut, and is a daughter of Harlan and Mary (Kingsbury) Page, also natives of Cov- entry, and descendants of good old colonial families. Her paternal grandfather, Capt. Gad Page, commanded a company in the Con- tinental army during the Revolutionary war, and she well remembers seeing him in his uniform, as he lived to a great age. Her father, Harlan Page, moved to New York city in 1825, and there did engraving for the American Tract Society and also took charge of the depository of that concern. Prior to this he had engaged in teaching school. He died in 1834, at the age of ■ forty-three years, and his wife passed away in New York, July 23, 1838, at the age of forty-five. She was a daughter of Lieut. Joseph Kingsbury, of Coventry, Connecti- cut, who won his title as an officer in the Continental army. Harlan Manus Page, brother of Mrsv Lewis, was a graduate of Beloit College and for many years was employed on the staff of the "Wisconsin State Journal" at JNIadi- son, \\'isconsin. In 1876, owing to failing health, he resigned his position and removed to Baraboo, where he died June 15, 1886, at the age of sixty-three years, his remains being interred in Platteville, Wisconsin. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Eliza Turner, still survives. One daughter, Mrs. Josie E. Hildebrandt, is now in Balize, British Honduras, and a son, Har- lan K. Page, makes his home in Chicago and is connected with the "Chicago Trib- une." '5 Mrs. Lewis was reared and educated in' New York City, and there she gave her hand in. marriage, July 18, 1843, to Rev. John Lewis, a Congregational minister, who was born in Walpole, ]\Iassachusetts, and was graduated from Dartmouth College and also the New York Theological Seminary. In 1843 he came to W'isconsin as a home mis- sionary and located at New Diggings, la- boring among the mining towns of the southwestern part of the state until 1847, when called to the pastorate of the Congre- gational Church in Platteville. He continued in charge at that place until called from this life September 2, i860, at the age of forty- three years. He worked untiringly in the Master's vineyard, and was loved and re- spected not only by the people of his own con- gregation but by all who knew him and 692 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. witnessed his devotion to the cause of Christ. After her husband's death Mrs. Lewis spent a few years in Chicago, but since 1876 has made her home in Baraboo. Here she is surrounded 1i>- a large circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom she is held in the highest regard on account of her many acts of kindness and deeds of charity. JOHN FERRIS, Deceased. John Ferris, deceased, was for many years a prominent and influential farmer of Otsego township, Columbia county, and left behind him an honorable name. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, INIarch 13, 1833, and was a son of Alexander and Mary (Robinson) Ferris. The senior Ferris was a farm laborer and came to the United States, dying in Dayton, Ohio, in 1867, when he had reached the aee of seventy-seven. He served in the British army in the battle of Waterloo. John Ferris left home when twenty- two years old, and coming to this country, made his first location at Dayton, Ohio. From that city he enlisted in the Union army September 3, 1861, being enrolled as a mem- ber of Company C, Forty-fourth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He re-enlisted in Company F, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and served throughout the war, being discharged in August, 1865. He was in active duty nearly all the time. He served under Burn- side at Knoxville, and later became a part of the command of General Sheridan. He was in the battle of Cedar Creek and through out the Shenandoah campaign. He avoided wounds and capture, though his hat was taken off by a cannon ball, and he had many narrow escapes. He attended many army reunions, and greatly enjoyed these meetings. After the war Mr. Ferris came to Wis- consin, and bought a farm on section 7, in the town of Otsego, and here he spent his remaining years. He made many improve- ments on the place, and owned one hun- dred and fifty-six acres at the time of his death, which occurred May 13, 1900. He gave some attention to stock breeding and to potato culture. He was well read, took much interest in the general events of the times, and was able to discuss public ques- tions very intelligently. He was a Republi- can, but never ran for office, and would not consent to any proposition in that di- rection. He was a member of the Congre- gational church at Rio. He was formerly a Methodist, but when that church dis- banded at Rio he united with the Congre- gational. He belonged to the Henry C. Payne Post of the Grand Army of the Re- public at Pardeeville. He was united in marriage, March 23, 1866, to Mrs. Catherine McKenna, a daugh- ter of John and Mary Henry. She was born in Dyian, county Tyrone, Ireland, and her father was a bookkeeper in a flax factory at Dyian. He died there, and his widow came to Wisconsin, bringing with her the family. She died in the town of Otsego, October 14, 1893, aged eighty-seven, keep- ing her bodily activity and mental vigor to the last. Ancestors of John Henry came to Ireland from Glasgow, Scotland. His fa- ther, Alexander Henry, served in the Eng- lish army during the Irish rebellion, and as- sisted in quelling the Catholic uprising, for which, however, he received no pay. Mrs. Ferris, who is still living, is the mother of five children, three of whom are living: Maggie, Mrs. Edward H. Hellie, is residing at Hanley Falls, Minnesota; Addie, who is Mrs. Van Armen, has her home in Rio; John R. carries on the home farm. He is a graduate of the business college at Rock- ford. There are four grandchildren in the family. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. G93 JOHN WALTON, Deceased. For many years prior to his deatli the gentleman ahove named was a leading- miller and land owner of Adams county. He was the possessor of two of the best farms in the vicinity of Easton, and was also propri- etor of the mill at that place. Mr. Walton was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 28, 1824. He emigrat- ed to Hamilton, Ontario, when about seven years of age, and resided there for some time. He was a milJer by trade and built the mill at Olin, Springville township, and liad previously purchased the mill at Easton, which he owned at the time of his death. He came into possession of a farm at White Creek and the farm near Easton, on which his son, Rufus, now resides. He enlisted in the cause of his country, in Company K, Thirty-second ^^'isconsin Lifantry, and served as lieutenant during the Civil war. Mr. Walton was married July 11, 1846, tc Miss Mary Wells, of Hamilton, Ontario. Mrs. Walton lived three years after their marriage, and left one son, Henry J. Mr. Walton married Julia A. Coyne, of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, March 22, 1851, and her death occurred September 30, 1881, and she was laid to rest at Fall River. Ten children were born of this union, six of whom sur- vive, as follows : Wallace B., now in Alaska; Marcus T., employed by Great Northern Railroad in Hillyard; Rufus S., residing on the farm in section 30, Easton township; Franklin M., of Ellendale, North Dakota, engaged in milling; Charles W., residing in Milwaukee; Elgie J., bank clerk at Oakes, North Dakota. Mr. Walton was married to Mrs. Emma Pease, April 21, 1883, who is now residing in Chicago. Mr. Walton died at Easton, Adams county, Wisconsin. March 25, 1895, and was laid to rest at Fall River, Wisconsin, where he formerly resided, and where sev- eral members of his family are buried. He was a man respected by all who knew him, and whose words and deeds were of the highest character. He was a member of Friendship Post, No. 122, G. A. R. He voted in accordance with his views of right and for the welfare of his fellow man, and stood stanchly for the Republican party. Rufus S. was the fourth son, and was born in Elkhart, Lidiana, September 9, 1865, and came to Easton when about six years of age. He attended school until he reached his majority, and assisted his father in the mill and on the farm, which he con- tinued to do until his father's death. He moved onto the homestead in the fall of 1898, and has since engaged in the pursuit of farming. Rufus S. Walton was married Novem- ber 23, 1890, to Etta Henry, daughter of J. A. and Augusta (Stowell) Henry, of Easton. Three children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walton, as follows: Winifred, born June 16, 1893; Margie Belle, born October 12, 1897; and John Lester, October 9, 1899. Mr. Walton is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, White Creek lodge. In political faith he is a Republican. He has been called upon to serve in various township offices, and' is ever willing to perform his duty faith- fully and for the benefit of his community. His home is one of refinement and his fam- ily circle is a pleasant one. He is one of the rising young men of his county and al- ready enjoys popularity and esteem. CHARLES ALBERT NUTTING. Charles Albert Nutting, one of the prom- inent citizens of Randolph, Columbia coun- t}', operates a machine shop and has won considerable distinction in his line of work. 694 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. He was born in Randolph, Vermont, Octo- ber 15, 1847, and was a son of Charles and Cordelia M. (Gilman) Nutting. The father of our subject was a native of Randolph, Vermont, where he engaged in the practice of law for some years. He was a graduate of Oberlin College and began his professional life with his father, William R. Nutting, who followed the practice of law in Randolph most of his life. He passed away at the age of eighty-four years. The father of our subject came to Wisconsin in 1853 and purchased a farm near Randolph, in Dodge county, and resided thereon during the remainder of his career. He abandoned the practice of law and engaged in farm- ing. He died about 1895, aged seventy-six years. He was justice of the peace for many years and a member of the Congregational church at Fox Lake, but in his later life he attended the Methodist church at Randolph, which was more convenient to his home. He was an influential and exemplary citizen. His brothers, George and David, were mis- sionaries to Turkey for some years. The mother of our subject was born at Tam- worth, New Hampshire, and died some years before her husband. Her father was a farmer by occupation. Rev. Hidden, a prominent minister of Tamworth, was a relative of Mrs. Nutting. Our subject was one of eleven children, three of whom are deceased. The surviving children are as follows: Charles Albert, our subject; Sam- uel Edward, residing in Everett, Washing- ton. The latter is the inventor of a wax wheel arc light, which is manufactured ex- tensively; Maria Gihnan, now residing in Stillwater, Minnesota, was educated at Rock- ford Seminary, Rockford, Illinois, and spent seven years as a missionary in Turkey; Lil- lian, who became the wife of George Part- ner, and died in Clark county, Wisconsin; Clarence foreman of a jewelry manufactur- ing establishment at Minneapolis, Minne- sota; Harlan T. K., residing on the home farm ; Perley, professor in Stanford Univer- sity, California ; Cora, now Mrs. Bennett, residing near Moscow, Minnesota ; and- Mabel, now Mrs. Hopkins, of Red Cliff, ^Visconsin. Charles Albert Nutting was about six years of age when he came to Wisconsin, and at the age of sixteen }-ears he enlisted, December 2t„ 1863, in Company E, Twenty- ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. After Lee's surrender he was transferred to Com- pany I, Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry. He was stationed at Montgomery, Mobile, and other places in Alabama, and took part in Banks' Red river expedition. He was at Sabine Cross Roads and partici- pated in a three-days march, which caused his illness and he was confined to the hos- pital for some time. He took part in a number of skirmishes and scouting expedi- tions until the siege of Mobile, at which place he remained until he was discharged from the service in October, 1865. He returned tij Wisconsin after the war and in 1866 be- gan to learn the carpenter's trade, which he has followed more or less since that time. Since 1880 he has operated a wagon shop, v.'ith which he combines general jobbing, a feed mill, etc. He has added a general ma- chine shop and does a variety of machine v.ork and has one of the best equipped shops for wood or iron work in the state. He is a natural genius for mechanical work and has made a success. Our subject was married, in 1873, to Elizabeth Bryant, of Westford township, daughter of John Bryant, a farmer of that locality. Mrs. Nutting died in 1888, aged thirty-four years. Four children were born to this union, as follows : Lloyd Oliver, in business with his father; Clinton Albert, of Vancouver, British Columbia; Isabel Maude, now Mrs. Henry Tuttle; of Milwau- kee; Sadie, now Mrs. R. Teela, of Randolph. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 695 Mr. Nutting was married to Josephine Bry- ant, a sister of tlie first wife, in 1893. Mrs. Nutting- was born in Westford township, Dodge county. Two children iia\e been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nutting, who are named as follows : Leroy W. and Clarence. Mr. Nutting is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has filled the principal ofifices in the local lodge and is a member of the grand lodge. He is a member of George H. Stevens Post, No. 100, G. A. R., at Fox- Lake. He was a member of the village board for several years and is identified with the Repnlilican party politically. PLINY HAYES GUNNISON. Pliny Hayes Gunnison, a prominent and influential citizen of the village of North Freedom, Sauk county, Wisconsin, who is now living retired from active business cares, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county. New York, May 3, 1832, and is a son of Levi B. and Rhoda (Hurd) Gunnison, na- tives of New Hampshire, who located in Canandaigua about 1822. The father was born in Goshen, New Hampshire, and was fi\-e years okl when his parents died of spotted fever at that place. His great-grand- father was a native of Norway and founded the family in New Hampshire about two hundred years ago. On the maternal side our subject is of English descent. His grandfather lived and died in New Hamp- shire. The fathe*- of our subject died on his farm in Canandaigua, New York, at the age of eighty-four years, the mother at the age o' eighty-six. In his native state Pliny FI. Gunnison spent his boyhood and youth, and in 1856 came to Wisconsin, locating in Lodi, Co- lumbia county, where he owned and operated a farm of one hundred and sixtv acres on the line of the old military road 1)etween Mineral Point and Fort Winnebago, where a tavern was conducted for several years. He also purchased a forty-acre tract of tim- ber land in Dane county. On leaving the farm, in 1883, b.e removed to Lodi, where he successfully engaged in the agricultural im- plement business for four years, and then came to North Freedom, where for five years lie dealt in lumber with good success, but since then has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil. On the 25th of April, 1855, Mr. Gunni- son married Miss Frances M. Moore, who was born in Medina, Ohio, a daughter of William and Edna (Castle) Moore, both natives of Canandaigua, New York. Her father went to California by way of the Isthmus and died there in 185 1 at the age of fifty-one years. The mother died in Lodi, Wisconsin, in 1878, at the age of seventy-four years. Her father. Dyer Cas- tle, removed from New England to Nevyf York at an early day and endured many hardships en route. His wife, Margaret Jones, of Welsh lineage, was a devout Quak- eress, and in remembrance of her deliver- ance from the dangers of this journey al- ways kept a memorial, to the Lord upon her mantel. 'Her father was Myron Jones, a sea captain. To Mr. and Mrs. Gunnison were born eight children, namely: Edna M., widow of A . Hawley, of Eden, Michigan, is a woman of considerable ability and talent, and is now acting secretary of the- Bay View Read- ing Circle; Irwin L. is a resident of Lake Preston, South Dakota; Charles N. is sec- retary of a packing company at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; George H. is also a resident of Lake Preston, South Dakota; Emma A. is the wife of F. Peers, of McMinnville, Tennessee; William M. and John H. are both living in North Freedom, Wisconsin; and Alice F. is a teacher of Tomah, Wis- €s^ r - y-fPEyDFUJi CS32SS. "rC iTc ITjl rfT^~r^ trl zn '~if JSr^rr-e- s ESSi- 3cr tbe f iGi'vsi^ jear fee- sec. Sie -apcrkcd 2s 5;reiiEx §:t -jne : : caiHE ifjs3±5ed ■arzdi -be Ft rcfbt^ajn psriij- s. fee«-ery 2£ BaraSco. snc. fn: i±e : — . : aaf. Es zz prcses: a ■— Enoer •-£ die scire >csi- ^^73 '■'^^^^^ e> Fsctagt. wnere lae ^x— -cbised tral cj i^ r-T' L ee of ^vIsciesei. He bss desx a. crewecj. -wbazb be bss saire e-".---^i snf. caZei ::5»:a r; 2IZ 2. sz— &er of locil or5jfs. bnpro-^r^i tnsbi ir xE'sr bss s. i-^'inr-j :f S3rj rer. - :r bi ease ■•^'"■-^ iiizasc scr- eral . - . ^ -'33 ni ibe cnj. SDine j- iSS; 3cfb -be large "abcik rea&oQS: ^^bnib "IS ?:rxs- jeer ns Zaarae. sai ^Fmrfr is 53C— r _ vb±: ail rbe lEEsi^jEts wMcfe 31S&E 5s H: r- "^r^V HjST^ZN"- — -r- — dig Ebrb:^. in Jsnrsry- eS^jl Mr. Enssr w3s tuxsEi Ke: ::£ ":onr of bfr~ rr^' c rbere ire t ^ ^ brg- 5e:cie- wbQ ~ceEE daeEr eririre bres nr tbe ?fcfl^- ^Jv ^ ;ie ^^bsconsix Unrreracf; pr:--rbiice of XassEi. F-or =£x jear~ rbe nt- -\IfraL wia> s? aiowr assscbig' sr doe breserr: tber ienei ss a soitSer ai Qe Gerissn: arsy. Arrs- lao-ar ilr^^ Jacaes Kirsbs. ; f ctrr COilPEXDK'M OF BIOGRAPHY. t.97 Trmit\- E\-angeItcal church at Portage and occupy a prominent place in business and social circles. Throughout the greater part of his life Mr. Epstein has supported the Democratic part}-, bat in 1S96 \x>ted for William McKinley for president. He takes no active part in political agitation, but has beai a liberal contributor to public eiter- prises. and is justly regarded as one of the m-jst public-spirited and \-aIued citizens of his adopted county. He has accumulated a handsome propeny. and his life illustrates what can be accomplished through mdustn,-. perseverance, good management and a de- termination to succeed. PETER DAXGEL. Peter Dangel is a well-known citizen of Reedsburg. who has achieved success in business through his own industry, perse- verance and int^rity of character. Ehiring his residence of over thirty years in that place he has established a reputation among his associates, which justly entitles hizn to honorable mention in the annals of Sauk cjtmty. He 15 a native of Germany, bom at Moriheim. Rhine pro\-ince. October 28, 1834. His parents. Peter George and Bar- bara (T.rnd) Dangel. were in humble cir- cumsrances and bequeathed hi m little more than a rugged oDnstitution and an honest purpose to better his condition in Hfe. They lived and 6i&i in the Fatherland, the former passing away in 1S46, at the age of forty- two years, while Mrs. Dangel survived to the age of siicty years. While a boy Peter Dangel b^an to learn the miller's trade, at which he was employed in his native land about eleven years. In the meantime be spent two and (xnt-baii - in the German amnr, bat as peace pre- '. dtiring that period he was not callefi into accoal hostilities. Belie\-ing that the United States offered better opportunities for capable and ambitious men, in 1S60 he came to this cotrntrv". He spent the next five or six years in the state of Xew \ork, being emplo>-ed at his trade most of that dme in Oswego and Sj-racuse. He then \ came to Reedsburg and for a dozen years operated the grist mill at that place, which was then owned by S. Mackev- & Company. For the next three years he carried on a shoe" store in conjunction with Paul Bishop, to whom he sold his interest in the business at the end of that period. In 1S80 he opened a meat market, which he has since conducted with the exception of three years, during which time he rented the establishment. For a part of this interval he was employed as bookkeeper and collector in the Reeds- burg Brewer*-. The name of the present firm is Peter Dangel &: Son, and the pro- cession of customers which is constantly fil- ing in and out of their shop attests the ex- cellent qualitv- of the goods sold as well as the personal popularity of the proprietors. Mr. Dangel was married Februarj- 24, 1865, to Dora Parau, daughter of ilrs. Catharina Parau, of Oswego, Xew York. Mrs. Dangel was bom at Barum, pro\ince of Hanover, Germany, and came to this countrv- in 1864, her father having died in Germany. She 6x&i October i, 1892, at the age of forty-four years and was buried from St. Peter's Lutheran church, of which she was a de\-out member. She was the mother of five children, tliree of whom 5un.-ive to revere her memory-. Following is the rec- ord: Louise died at the age of nineteen years; William died when an infant: Loui is one of the partners composing the Stolte, Dangel & Foss Company, one of the leading mercantile establishments of Sauk ojunty; Peter H. is his father's partner ; and Gustave E. is a member of the drug firm of ilueller & Dangel, Reedsburg. July ir. 1896. Mr. 698 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Dangel was married to Mrs. Hannah Briggs, widow of Oscar Briggs, of Reedsburg, and a native of province of Hanover, Germany. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Dangel has affiliated with the Democratic party. In recognition of his in- terest in the affairs of the city he has re- peatedly been chosen to fill responsible pub- lic positions. For two years he was assessor of the city and served fifteen years as alder- man of the first ward, being a member of the city council longer than any other citi- zen. He took an active interest in securing the incorporation of the city and the estab- lishment of its admirable system of water works, which has been the source of envy and emulation on the part of many neighbor- ing towns. HOLTOX BRADLEY METCALF. Springville tuwnshii). Adams county, has few men who have passed as eventful a ca- reer as has fallen to the lot of this gentle- man, and who ha\-e met with the same suc- cess in e\-ery undertaking. His progressive spirit and earnest efforts, supplemented by the strictest honesty and sound judgment, have placed him among the foremost agri- culturists of his community. He is a na- tive of ^^'isconsin, and it is but natural to take special interest in the welfare of her people, but wherever he has resided he has shown a public spirit and acti\-e interest in every enterprise for the public good. He has a fine estate in Springville township, and is surrounded by all the comforts of rural life. ]Mr. ]Metcalf was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1863, and was the son of John and Mahala (Mead) Metcalf. His father was born at Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, in 1805, and resided there until ten years of age. when he mo\-ed to Buffalo, New York, where h.' li\'ed twenty-five years, anfl was engaged in farming and lumbering. He lost con- siderable money and in 1S40 moved to Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, where his death occurred February 22, 1884, after be- ing a resident of that county forty-four years. He was one of the first settlers in the county and for many years followed farm- ing, and later engaged in mercantile busi- ness, and accumulated considerable property. He was the first president of the village, and was highly respected. He was a Univer- salist in religious belief, and a Republican in politics. The mother of our subject was born in Dutchess county, Xew York, where the family had resided many years, and in 1855 the family moved to Washington coun- ty, Wisconsin. The parents of our subject were married in 1859, and two children were born to them, as follows : Holton, our sub- ject, and Blenne, now Mrs. E. C. Morse, of Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Morse was for a number of years county superintendent of schools of Adams county, Wisconsin. Our subject passed his boyhood at home and had every opportunity to obtain an ex- cellent education. Ai the age of eighteen years he went to Xew Mexico and engaged in stock raising, and made a success of sheep raising, but he afterward became interested in the raising of horses and lost a con- siderable sum of money. After five years' stay in X"ew Mexico he returned to Adams county, where his mother had land. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of tillable land, well equipped with good buildings and machinery, and is one of the first farmers of the vicinity. He taught school while in New Mexico and has also taught three winters in the district in which he lives. He was a stage coach driver over the Raton moun- tains in Colorado for a time, and on account of the rugged roads the trips were filled with excitement. At various times he has en- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 699 gaged in the jewelry business, been con- ductor tor a raih-dail, _I)(>okkeeper. teacher, stock raiser and driver of stage coach, and has gained a competence as well as an en- viable name. Mr. IMetcalf was married January 25, 1888, to ]\Iary Reese, daughter 0/ John and Mary Reese, natives of \Vales, who located in Jefferson county. \\'isc(insin, v.-here Mrs. Metcalf was born. Four chil- dren have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. ]\Ietcalf, named as follows: George, born April 30, 1890; John, born No\-ember 27, 1892; Lorna, born April 25, 1894; and Hala, born jNIarch 7, 1897. Mr. Metcalf is a Re- publican in pohtical sentiment. Imt has not aspired to public office. He has been as- sessor for his township for a numljer of terms, and is otherwise interested in the welfare (if his community. He is pro- gressive, well educated and keeps pace with the current events. He has one of the finest libraries in the county, and culture and re- finement are everywhere present at his home. He is a gentleman of good address, and one whom it is a pleasure to meet. OLIVER MARTI X YORK. The early settlers of a country are the ones who monk! her destinv, and in Adams county, W'isconsin,^ many of the pioneers who did so much for that region still reside. Foremost among this class stands the gen- tleman whose name heads this review. Adams county has been his home for many years, hut he has not resided long in Monroe township. However, he has found a high place in the minds of his associates, and is a respected member of his community. iNIr. York was born February 8, 1827, at Adams, Jefferson county, Xew York, and v,-as the son of Erastus and Elizabeth (Til- den) York. Hig father was a shoemaker by trade, and came to Adams county, Wis- consin, from Jefferson county. New York, in 1892. He was eighty-five years of age at the time and came to reside with his children aiul his death occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin, of Vanceburg, Dunn county, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty-six years. The mother died in Jef- ferson county, New York, June 24, 1843, aged forty-one years. At a very early age our subject went to work on a farm at three dollars per month. At seventeen years of age he began sailing on the lakes, .going as far west as Chicago, at which he continued about three years, when he went to Spring Prairie, Walworth countv, Wisconsin, and engaged at work on a farm. After three years spent at farm w^ork he learned the mason's trade, which he fol- lowed about three years there, and then two years in Poynette, Columbia county. He later moved to Easton, Adams county, and took up one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which was wild. He was one of the first settlers, and neighbors were few and far away. He improved the land and erect- ed good buildings, and occupied the place until 1873, when he disposed of the farm for one in Rome township, and in 1893 sold that farm and ]3urchased his present estate in ]Monroe tnwnship. He has a well improved farm antl the appearance of the place evi- dences care in every detail. Mr. York enlisted in Company K, Twen- ty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, August 15, 1862, and was in all of Sherman's campaigns and on his march to the sea. He was a spec- tator of the grand review at Washington, but did not jjarticipate in the march, owino- to his being on detached .service, and sec- ond lieutenant of the Twenty-fifth Wiscon- sin, under Rusk. He was mustered out at Washington, in 1865. and received his dis- charge at Madison., Wisconsin, June 7th. Mr. York was married, in Honey Creek, 700 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Walworth county, \\'isconsin, October 8, 1848, to Lydia Ackernian, of Poynette. Mrs. York died December 30, 1894, and was buried in Rome, Wisconsin. Seven chil- dren, four of whom are hving-, were born to Mr. and Mrs. York, as follows : Frank E., an agriculturist, of Monroe township; Laura E., now Mrs. C. H. Snyder, of Monroe; Robert N., now residing at Tomah; and Erastus V., residing at Friendship. Mr. York married Mrs. Alice M. AValker, of Big Fiats, January 14, 1896. Mrs. York was the widow of Philo D. Walker, who during the Civil war was orderly sergeant of Company K, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry. He died October 5, 1895, 'i"d was buried at Big Flats. Mr. York is a member of Badger Post, No. 122, G. A. R., of Friendship. In religious faith he is a member of the United Brethren church. He takes an active part in the affairs of the Republican party, and has attended as delegate numerous county con- ventions. He is a true and highly respected citizen. FOULK ROBERT ROBERTS. Foulk Robert Roberts, one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Columbia county, Wis- consin, entered claim to his land in Ran- dolph township, in 1844. He settled there on the 1st day of November of the same year, and has since made that his home, but is now retired from active pursuits and en- joys the competence which comes to him as the result of many years of industry and faithful efforts. The farm is located in sec- tions I and 12, of Randolph township, con- sisting of two hundred and forty acres, and was the first land entered in the county by a \\'elshman. Our subject was born on a farm named Blaen-y-Cs, in the ])arish of Llanddeiniolan, Caernarvonshire, North \\'ales, February 14, 1820, and was a son of Robert and Catherine Roberts. His grandfather, Robert Roberts, was a farmer by occupation, and the father of our subject was a Cjuarryman dur- ing his younger days and was one of three men who opened the quarry of Llanberis, in Cjernarvonshire, and later in life followed farming on the estate where our subject was born, living there until his demise. Our sub- ject's maternal grandparents were Foulk and Ann (Morris) Jones, and the grand- father was a laborer and tiller of a small farm. Foulk Robert Roberts remained in his native land until 1844, when, with his britle, his widowed mother and his two brothers, David and Thomas, and other families, he came to America. They sailed from Liver- pool and after three weeks landed at New York, and from there proceeded by boat to Racine, ^^'isconsin, reaching their destina- tion about six weeks after leaving their na- ti\'e land. Our subject, his two brothers and a companion left the others of the family at Racine and went in search of a suitable location. The}- foimd some of their nation- ality settletl at Janesville, but no available land near there, although a small tract of eighty acres was offered our subject at a price that was ^•ery reasonable, but he re- fused, owing to the scarcity of land for the other settlers, who contemplated forming a colony. That eighty-acre tract was after- ward the town site of Janesville. They trav- eled to \\'atertown afoot, but found most of the land taken or pre-empted, and they then proceeded to Lake Emily, where the go\ern- ment l.and agent ga\'e them all necessary in- formation and they soon selected locations. The brother, David, had traveled extensively and had a good knowledge of English, and was employed by the land agent to assist in locating settlers from his nati\'e land, and he assisted in selecting homes for the first settlers of Welsh Prairie, in the town of Springvale. David Roberts left for Call- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. roi foniia with his hrother, Thomas, during the gold excitement, and they made tlieir way across the phiins. He died soon after ar- riving there. After locating land in section 12. in Randolph township, Columbia county, and section 7, Fox Lake township, Dodge county, in October, 1844, our subject and his brothers returned to Racine, Wisconsin, for their mother and wives, and November I, of that year, located permanently on their farms. There being on land bought by Thomas a small house, in this they installed their mother and families. Our subject on his own land built a small shanty for him- self and wife. Some years afterward he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining his original farm in section I; in Randolph county. His mother died in 1 871 . Our suliject prospered at farming and conducted the estate until recent years, when he sold the farm to his son and is now liv- ing on the old homestead farm, retired from active pursuits. Mr. Roberts was married, August 18, 1844, to Catherine Owen, a daughter of Griffith and Elizabeth (Rowlands) Owen. Her grandparents on the paternal side were Owen Thomas and Jane (Griffith) Evans, and were 1)y occupation farmers, and their home was in Lhn, Caernarvonshire. Mrs. Roberts' father was a farm laborer. Her maternal grandparents were Rowland Hum- phrey and Sarah Thomas Pritchart Pryse, of Llanfalrus. Mrs. Roberts' parents came to America in 1846 with three of their chil- dren, Mary, Eleanor and Griffith, and in 1847 Samuel and Jane and the latter's hus- band came to America. Two sisters re- mained in Wales. The mother died four years after her arrixal here, in 1850. Mr. and ^Irs. Roberts are the parents of five children, as follows : Catherine, now Mrs. William Parry, of Milwaukee;, Eliza- beth, now Mrs. John R. Owens, of Columbus; Sarali, who became the wife of R. P. Wynne, of Milwaukee, and died in April, 1899; Eleanor, now ]Mrs. Richard Williams, living at the old home; and Robert P., married and living at Randolph. All the children are natives of Randolph township, and were born on the homestead farm. Mr. Roberts is a gentleman of intelligence, and has contrib- uted valuable articles to the press in his own language. He is a consistent member of the Welsh C. M. church, and has held the office of deacon in the church since 1854. He was one of four who established the first Sabbath school, the first meeting being held the first Sunday in November, 1844. He and his two brothers, Da\-id and Tliomas, and a companion, John Evans, felt the need of religious services and with their Bibles went to a roofless shed and held services, reading alternately and discussing the scrip- tures and after their meeting decided to found a Sunday school. They gave notice to the surrounding neighbors of their reso- lution and the next services were held the following Sabbath at the home of our sub- ject's mother, and met there for some years afterward until a suitable place could be provided. A church was built some years later on the southwest corner of his home- stead, which is known as Engedi, and still remains. Our subject voted the first ticket placed before the electors of Wisconsin by the Republican party in 1855, and has since been identified with that party. He was present at the first meeting of his township for its organization and is the only mem- ber present who is still living. He is fore- most in his labors for the common people and left his native land on account of the oppression existing there. JAMES PARSON PALMER. James Parson Palmer, a well-knorn December 14, 1838, and was a farmer by occupation, and the motlier was born October 22, 1840. Our subject is tlieir only son now living, and the family came to Wisconsin and settled in Columbia county, in 1868, and purchased a farm two miles east of Poynette, where they remained until 1881, when they removed to the village of Poynette, where they still reside. Our subject received a good education, and in 1884 engaged in the hardware busi- ness. He disposed of his business in 1890 and erected a fine livery barn, and stocked it with a full outlay of livery, and now enjoys a good patronage. He handles some fine fast horses, and is one of the wide awake men of his calling. His father has been en- gaged for some years in the business of mov- ing buildings, and is well equipped for that trade. Mr. Luce was married, February 20, 1888, to Ella Price, daughter of James Price, of Poynette. Three children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Luce, upon whom the}^ have bestowed the names of Mary, Jasper and Luena. Mrs. Luce is a member of the Methodist chuch, and the father and mother of Mr. Luce are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Luce holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. He was constable for nine years, and has also served as city marshal. He is a Democrat in political sentiment, and takes an active part in the affairs of his par- ty. He is prominent, and in all public mat- ters is ready to wield his influence for the welfare of his community. He is yet in the prime of vigorous manhood, and is destined to become one of the leading men of his county. He has known this state as his home for the greater part of his life, and his career has been one of uprightness and hon- or, and his character is Ijeyi^nd reproach. Practical business sense has placed him among the substantial men of the commu- nity and his energy and enterprise are ap- parent in the management of his establish- ment. PAUL LACHMUND. Paul Lachmund, a worthy representative of the business interests of Sauk City, and a prominent citizen of that place, is a na- tive of Muenden, province of Hanover, Ger- many, and came to this country in 1854 with his parents. Dr. Henrich G. and Bertha (Do- cile) Lachmund. The father was a well edu- cated man of literary tastes and was a skilled physician and surgeon. For a year and a half the family made their home in Burling- ton, Iowa, and for the same length of time in Sigourney, Iowa, after which they came to Sauk City. For many years the father was one of the most popular and successful phy- sicians of this part of the country, his prac- tice extending over a wide range of territory. In 1 88 1 he retired from active life and made ' his home for a time in St. LouiS; ^lissouri, but finally returned to Sauk City, where he died in 1890. The mother of our subject had passed away in 1871. Of the four chil- dren born to them, three are still living, namely: Karl S., a resident of New York city; Agnes; and Paul. Paul Lachmund, of this review, ob- tained his education principally under the di- rection of a private tutor in the family, and through the excellent instruction of his fa- ther, only attending the public schools for one term in Sigourney. In 1859 he com- menced his business life with a man who was engaged in tailoring and conducting a general store, and he obtained a knowledge of both occupations. Later he clerked for George Pratt, in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, 706 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. for one year, and for the same length of time assisted his father, who had opened an apoth- ecary shop in Sauk City, where he gained a good knowledge of drugs and chemicals and also Latin. The following two years he engaged in clerking in a general store at Cross Plains, and from there went to Mil- waukee, where he attended a commercial col- lege and then entered a life and fire insurance office, where he was employed two years. He next accepted a position in a dry-goods house, with which he was connected until the dissolution of the firm, being engaged in clerking and traveling on the road By this time he had gained a good practical knowl- edge of business in general, and on his re- turn to Sauk City, in 1870, opened a general store, which he conducted for five years. Subsequently he accepted a position in Mil- ^vaukee with the Mechanics' Insurance Com- pany, and in January, 1878, returned to Sauk City, where he has since been engaged in the lumber trade with most gratifying success, dealing in all kinds of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, etc. Mr. Lachmund married Miss Bertha Hallazs, by whom he has seven children, namely: Victor, Edwin, Irnia, Herman, Robert, Bruno and Clara. In religious be- lief he is liberal and is connected with the Free Congregational society of Sauk City. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has served as a -delegate to county and state conventions, has been a member of the state central committee, and in 1896 was an elector-at-large on the Republican ticket. He has filled the office of justice of the peace, was president of the board of trustees, a member of the county board, and chairman of the latter board. He also has been connect- ed with the school board twelve years, of which he was secretary and treasurer a part of the time, and his advice and judgment are often sought in public affairs. He is a modest and unassuming man, but is widely and favoraljly known, and is ver_v popular with the people. JOEL BARRETT WRIGHT. Strength of character and activity of mind, two of the characteristics which have predominated in the life of our subject, have given to Adams county her more influential citizens, and prominent among them stands this gentleman. He has been a conspicuous figure in the history of that region, and' needs little introduction to those among whom he has passed nearly forty-five years. He was a pioneer of Adams county, and his home is now located in New Chester town- ship, where he has gathered around him a pleasant home and fine estate. Mr. Wright was born in Mount Holly, Vermont, October 8, 1829, and was the son of Elijah and Lucy (Wright) Spaulding. His father was accidentally killed when our subject was but a young boy, and -an uncle, Joel Wright, adopted him, and he took the uncle's sirname as his own. Joel Wright was a farmer by occupation, and died Jan- uary 14, 1867, at Chelmsford, Massachusetts. After her husband's death our subject's mother married Calvin Sargent, -and later married Mr. Taylor. By the second mar- riage she was the mother of nine children. She was the daughter of Zacheus Wright, a prosperous farmer of Chelmsford, Massa- chusetts, probably of English descent. Her death occurred in Vermont, October i, 1874, aged sixty-seven years, four months and twenty-seven days. Our subject's grand- father, Zebulon Spaulding, was a man of great physical proportions and strength, and was a farmer by occupation. He removed from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to Lud- low, Vermont, where he resided until his death. Our subject's parents had four sons COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ro7 and one daugiiter, as fnllows : One son died in infancy; Calvin W. ; Elijah, who after- wartl took the name of Wilder; Joel ?>.. onr subject; and Ahioail, wjio married Mr. rJifjelDW, and died in Connecticut. Our sub- ject is the only sur\-iving member of the family. Two of his brothers were also adopted by other families whose names they Kiok as their own. At two years of age our subject removed with his foster-father to Chelmsford, Mas- sachusetts, wliere he spent his boyhood days 01! a farm. lie was employed a part of the time in a cotton factory at Lowell, and was also one season in the match factory at Bos- ton. He came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1855, and located in Adams county. In i860 he purchased his present homestead in New -Chester township, and of the wild land he then purchased he has made a well impreived farm. His estate covers eighty acres, sixty acres of which is under a high state of culti- vation. He has erectecj commodious and con- venient farm buildings, and in every manner made it one of the first farms of the vicinity. For several years he marketed his protluce at Grand Rapids, and spent one or two sea- sons lumbering on the Yellow river. Mr. Wright enlisted in October, 1861, i"ii Company H. Eles'enth \\'isconsin \'olun- teer Infantry, and served nearly four years. Before leaving Madison, Wisconsin, he suf- fered an attack of pneumonia, and upon his recovery was appointed steward of the field liospital, and was later employed in the hos- pital at Mound City, Illinois, for two months. He then went with his regiment to Texas, where he re-enlisted as a veteran in the same company and regiment. From boyhood he was an adept at surgery, and was offered the position of assistant surgeon in the service but declined. He accompanied his regiment, doing hospital duty at Bayou Cache, Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, siege of Vicksburg, Fort Esperan- 38 za, Spanish Fort, Blakeley, and Mobile. Most of the time he was on tlie field in charge of the stretcher bearers. Mr. Wright was married, April 11, 1S50, at Nashua. New Hampshire, to Ann Ware, daughter of Parker and Maria (Cowdry) Ware. Mrs. Wright was born in Hillsboro, ?\ew Hampshire, and spent most of her child- hood at Billerica, Massachusetts. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and served in the war of 1812. Mrs. Wright's grand- father, Joseph Cowdry, was a farmer, who removed from New Hampshire to Billerica, Massachusetts, and his wife, Lucy (Brown) Cowdry, was the daughter of Thomas Brown, a farmer of Billerica. Two chil- dren were born to I\Ir. and Mrs. Wright, as follows : Joel Jefferson, postmaster of Ox- fonl, Wisconsin, and Annetta S., now Mrs. Hon. Clarence Pierce, of Germania, Wiscon- sin. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have eight grand- children and one great-grandchild. Both our subject and Mrs. Weight are members, of the Jonesville Congregational church, which they assisted in organizing, and Mr. Wright is a trustee and treasurer of the cliurch. They were formerly connected with the New Chester Congregational church. Mr. Wright is a member of J. C. Miller Post, G. A. R., at Oxford, and also the Masonic fraternity. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, but cast his presidential vote for Pierce in 1852. Soon after the Adams county poor house was established, in 1876, he was appointed over- seer and spent two years in charge of the in- stitution. Although he had but few con- veniences on which to depend, he conducted the place satisfactorily and declined appoint- ment the third year. He has filled numerous township offices and served as county super- intendent of the poor for six years. His act- i\-e public spirit and faithful service for the welfare of his community commend him to the respect of his many friends. ros COMPUNDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. WILLIAM T. KINNEY. William T. Kinney, ex-soklier an:l prom- iiient citizen of Lavalle, Sauk cdunty, will readily be recognized as one of the leading merchants of that village. He is engaged in the furniture business and mulertaking, and has resided in Laville for over twenty years. In that time he has done much to promote the interests of the A'illage, and is one of the substantial men of Sauk county. Mr. Kinney was bom in Whitby, Ontario, April I, 1843, and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stevens) Kinney, natives of Nova Scotia. His father was born August 8, 1 801, and was the son of Samuel Kin- ney, who was in the United States during the Revolutionary war. Thomas Kinnc}' was a cooper by trade and mo\-ed to \\'hitb}'. Ontario, in 1837, and to New Berlin,. \\'au- kesha county, Wisconsin, in 1850, where he followed his trade. He moved to Richland Center in 1855, where he died in yVpril, 1878. Our subject stayed at hc>n>e until the breaking out of the Civil war and then en- listed in January, 1862, at the age of eight- een years, in Comjiany F, Secontl Wiscon- sin Cavalry. He saw service under General C. C. Washburn, at the siege of \'icksburg, was in the expedition under Sherman at Meridian, and was in numerous skirmishes, and went to Houston and Austin, Texas, under Custer. He was taken prisoner, and detained at Vicksburg until paroled about January i, 1863. He was exchanged and returned to the service and was mustered out at Austin, Texas, December 17, 1865. For nine years after his return from the war he was engaged in farming in Richland county. Wisconsin, afterward moving to a farm one mile fr(.)m the x'illage of La\'alle, which he occupied three years. He moved to Lavalle in 1878, and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Mr. Kinney was married October 9, 1870, to Emma Potter, daughter of Elisha and A. (Calkins) Potter, natives of Madison county, New York, who moved to Lavalle township in 1852, and engaged in farm- ing. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kinney, as follows; \Valter W., born October 3, 1871, now U. S. railway mail clerk; and Frederic E., born May 16, 1875. He was a tinner by trade, and enlisted in the Spanish-American war in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Indiana \'olun- teers, and went to Fernandina, Florida, where he died of malarial fever, August 15, 1898, and was laid to rest at Lavalle. He was probably the first victim of the war from Sauk county. Mr. Kinney has served as member of the county board, and is prominent in public af- fairs. He is a member of A. A. Matthews I'ost, No. 49, G. A. R., of Lavalle, and has lield all of the offices connected with the post, and is present senior vice-commander. He is a Republican in political sentiment and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He is a man who commands respect wher- ever known. As an old soldier he can look back over an honorable military career, spent in defending the L^nion. During those times he was a bra\'e and true soldier and served his country faithfully and well, and tij-day ho is a true and faithful citizen, and ably seconds all projects which tend to the pro- tection and upbuilding of the interests of the \'illage in which he lives. EDWARD MURPHY. Edward Murphy, a resident of Kilbourn City, Columbia county, Wisconsin, was born in the town of Dell Prairie, and is a son of David and Mary (Cusack) Murphy. He has won for himself a good standing in Killiourn COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 709 City, and bids fair to attain still more marked success in the not distant future if health and strength remain. David Mur]jhv, the father of our subject, was one of the remarkable men of his time. Born in humble circumstances, oppressed with poverty and privation, he reared a large family to maturity, gave them a good educa- tion, and prepared them for an active and honorable career, and passed away at last, full of years and honor. He was born near Lim- erick, Ireland, November 2y, 1835, and died September 27, 1898, leaving the priceless legacy of a good name and an upright char- acter. He came to America in 1841, when his father, John Murphy, brought his fam- ily across the ocean and settled near Mont- real. He was a shoemaker, and worked at his trade. In 1848 the family came to Wis- consin, and settled on a large farm near Madison. Here John Murphy was very suc- cessful. He worked hard, managed wisely, and became c^uite prosperous. ^Vhen his wife died he came into Madison and retired from active life. He died in Duluth at the home of a "son in 1880. David Murphy was well educated, receiv- ing instruction in the public schools of Can- ada and Wisconsin, and finishing in the high school at Madison. At the age of seven- teen he began life for himself, and for a time worked in the lumber woods. He Ijecame foreman of the ^^'. H. Knox Luml)er Com- pany, and by strict attention to business gained a very good position. In 1857 he located in the town of Dell Prairie, where he had secured one hundred acres of choice farm land. Upon this he made substantial improvements, including a fine residence, and it is now one of the choicest farms in this highly cultivated region. Seventy-five acres are under cultivation, and the place is very attractive. He was an honored member of the Catholic church, and a trusted ofificer of the town. He possessed a genial spirit and a social disposition, and was a popular char- acter. He was not an active party man. though interested in public affairs, and ever free to express himself. He was a great reader, fond of the best literature, and fully informed on current affairs. David Murphy and Mary Cussack were married, in July, 1861. She is a daughter 01" Edniond and Katherine Cusack, pioneer settlers in the town of New Haven, Wiscon- sin, who did much to improve the country. Mrs. Murphy was born in August, 1845, and is the mother of ten children, nine of whom are still li\-ing: Jnhn A., born May 5, 1863, is an engineer and a resident of Dakota. Edward, born July 29, 1865, is the subject of this article, and a resident of Kil- bourn City. Margaret E., born August 10, 1868, was educated in the common schools and the Kilbourn high school. She was a successful school teacher for ten years, and is now the wife of Juseph Donahue, a suc- cessful farmer in New Haven, Adams coun- t}', Wisconsin. David J., liorn April 2, 1871, li\-es in Winton, Alinnesota, where he is working for a lumber company. Mary, born January i, 1873, ^^''^s educated in Kil- bourn, where she graduated from the high school, and began teaching when seventeen years old. She was a successful teacher for five years, and in 1895 became a student of the Caton Business College at Minneapolis, from which she graduated in two years. She took a position as stenographer with the N. A. Publishing Company, which she held a year. When her father died she returned home, and resumed teaching in the neighbor- hood. Celia R., born December 6, 1875, graduated from the Kilbourn high school, and taught school a year. She went to the College of Journalism a year, received a di- ploma, and is now employed in New York city where she is very popular. Thomas P., born February 2, 1878, lives at home and has charge of the old homestead. William 710 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. C, born June i, 1880, works at liome. Eliza- beth, born October i, 1882, is a student at the Kilbourn hig-Ji school. Harry, born April 8, 1885, died October 4 1893. Edward Murphy was educated in the common school, and when fifteen years of age struck out for himself. He worked first as a lumberman along the Green Bay Rail- road for a year, and then went west for some months. He came back to Wisconsin again, and resumed his work in the lumber trade. He was with the same company ten years, and by close application to the inter- ests of the company gained a responsible po- sition at Auburndal.e. He kept a boarding house at Sherry, for the Sherry Lumber Company, at Sherry, Wisconsin, four years, and in 1894 located on a farm in the town of Newport, Columbia county. It consist- ed of eighty-six acres, and received substan- tial improvements at his hands. He sold it out after a time arid moved to Kilbourn, where he was engagefl in business for a year, when he sold out. He was married, October 2, 1888, to Miss Maggie Holihan. She is a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Nugent) Holi- han. Her parents were pioneer settlers in the town of Dell Prairie, where she was born, and where her father was widely known as a successful farmer. She was ed- ucated in the common schools of Adams county, and is a lady of many excellent traits of character. They are the parents of one child, Mary E., who was born May 27, 1899. URBAN HUBER. Urban Huber, an industrious and pa- triotic citizen of Jackson township, Adams county, is one of the first farmers of that vicinity, and he has pushed Steadily forward to success. He is now enjoying his declin- ing years, surrounded by more than usual comforts, and is a respected citizen. Mr. Huber was born in Nesselwangen, Uberlingen, Baden, Germany, May 25, 1832, and was the son of Peter and Josepha (My- ers) Huber. His father served in the Ger- man army and was a prisoner in France for several years. He was afterward employed as a drix'er for an English missionarv for many years, and died during the earl_\- child- liood of our subject. The mother came to America in 1848, and died at Killjourn, Wisconsin, 'about 1880, aged nearly sixty years. Our subject accompanied his mother to America and learned the shoemaker's trade in New York City, where he remained for aljout six years, and then went to \\'iscon- sin and located at Sharon, Walworth coun- ty, and engaged at farming and plied his trade. He came to Adams county in 1858, and settled in Jackson township, where he now resides. He owns two hundred and forty acres and has cleared a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, and added substan- tial improvements. He has a shop at his home and works at his trade more or less. He operated a shop at Kilbourn for several years, but later returned to his farm. He has witnessed the development of that re- gion anil rode on the first train e\er run be- tween Shar(_in and Janesville, Wisconsin. Mr. Hulier enlisted in Company B, Forty- fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantr}-, in the fall of "1864, and served in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas, and took part in the battle of Nashville. He be- came a sufferer from chronic diarrhea, while in the service, from which he has never re- covered. He was discharged in July, 1865. Mr. Huber was married, in 1854, to Mar- garitta Hoffman, a native of Bayem, Ger- many. Mrs. Huber died September 9, 1887, leaving eight children, as follows : Minea, now Mrs. Frank Whaley; Frank; Andrew; COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 711 lulward; Jacob, of Minocqua, Wisconsin; Tuhii; Kate; and Richard. AH are residents ot" Adams county, with the exception of Ja- cob. ]\Ir. IIu1)er was married, January 5, 1890, to Mrs. Lizzie Larson, daughter of Evan and Jolianna Larson, of Kilbourn. Mrs. Huber was born in Nies Prestsegjel, Hedemarken, Norway. She came to Amer- ica in 1868. Her father cHed in Norway, and lier mother came to America in 1871, and died in Kilbourn in 1889, aged seventy- one years. Mrs. Hnl)er, by her previous marriage to Daniel Larson, was the mother of one child, Emil Julius. i\Ir. and Mrs. Muber are the parents of one child, a daugh- ter, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Dina. Mr. Huber was reared in the Cath- olic faith and his wife is a member of the Lutheran church, and the family attend the Jonesville Congregational church. He is a member of John Gillespie Post, G. A. R. He has always been a public-spirited man, but not an aspirant for public office, antl in po- litical faith is independent. WILLLXM A. HUME William A. Hume is one of Cnlumljia county's native sons, and a represeniati\-e of one of the most highly respected and hon- ored families, whose identification with her history dates from an early period in the development of the count\'. He was bom in Fort Winnebago township, September to, 1863, a son of James and Jane ( Leagel ) Hume. The father was born in Scotland, November 23, 1822, and in 1841 crossed the broad i\tlantic with his father, James Hume. They located at w hat was known as Twiggs Ferry, in Fort Winnebago township, Colum- bia county, W^isconsin, where the father of our subject bought one [lundred and sixty acres of wild land, upon which he erected a log cabin, and then set to work to improve his place. He cleared away the timber and broke sixty acres of his land, and later erected a good frame house upon the farm. He was one of the leading men of his town- ship, was public-spirited and progressive and served the town in almost every official ca- pacity. On first locating here he attended church in Oxford, was one of the main sup- porters of the church, and was a member of its official board. He helped organize the school district and ever bore his part in ad- vancing the interests of his adopted county and state. At one time he and his father served as bridge tender of the float bridge in Fort Winnebago township. He was a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war and i)articipated in many skirmishes. In 1897 he removed to Portage, Wisconsin, where he is now living a retired life, enjoy- ing a well earned rest, free frdui the cares and responsibilities of business life. William A. Hume was educated in the common schools of Columbia county, and during his boyhood and youth he aided his father in the improvement and cultivation of the home farm. At the age of nineteen years he started out in lii'e for himself as an ag- riculturist, and meeting with excellent suc- cess in his undertakings, he was able, in 1 89 1, to purchase a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, kncjwn as the Van Brunt farm, upon which he made many sub- stantial improvements. In 1894 he sold that place and bought his father's old homestead at Hume's Grove, which originally belonged to his grandfather, and there he is now suc- cessfully engaged in general farming. He casts his ballot for the men and measures of the Republican party, and gi\-es his support to every enterprise which he belie\es will prove of public benefit or will in any way ad- vance the interests of his town and county. On the 23d of April, 1890, Mr. Hume led to the marriage altar Miss Emma Tip- Hi COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ler, who was born in Winchester, Winne- bago county, Wisconsin, December 9, 1869, but she was reared and educated in Adams county. Her parents, Mills and Caroline (Wise) Tipler, were natives of Lincolnshire, England, and on their emigration to Amer- ica, in 1857, located in N^eenah, Wisconsin, but in 1877 removed to Easton township, Adams county, where they are now highly esteemed and prominent citizens. Our sub- ject and his wife have four children: Willis M., born April 16, 1891 ; Blanche E., born June 21, 1893; Gladys C, born August 12, 1897, and Jessie Irene, born May 22, 1900. Mr. Hume is a member of Sil\-er Lake Lodge, No. 19, A. O. L'. W., at Portage. IRA McWILLIAMS. Ira McWilliams has for nearly twenty years been closely identified with the business interests of La\-alle, Sauk county, as notary public, justice of the peace, United States pension agent, and also does conveyancing. He has resided in Wisconsin since the close of the Civil war, and is one of the loyal men of this state. Mr. McWilliams was born in Pamelia Corners, Jefferson county. New York, Sep- tember 13, 1842, and was the son of Ste- phen and Mary (Gardner) McWilliams. His father came from Canada in 1835 and went to Lake \\t\\\ Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1855, removing to Richland county in 1859, where he resided on a farm until 1882. He then moved to the village of Lavalle, Sauk county, where his death occurred in 1884. He was a consistent member of the Method- ist church, and in political sentiment was a Republican after the close of the war. The mother was born in Canada in 1814. Our subject was not afforded opportunity for attending school, but by working hard on the farm in the summer he was enabletl to spend part of the winter months at school, and taking ad\-antage of every opportunity gained a lilieral education and taught school for several years after leaving the army. He enlisted August 18. 1862, in Company E, Eighth Regiment Wisconsin V'olunteers, the famous "live eagle regiment," and served until the close of the war, being discharged September 5, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama. He saw hea\"v ser\ice under Sherman, Grant and A. J. Smith, in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. The first battle was at Fred- ricktown, Mississippi, then followed the siege of New Madrid ; Farmington ; first siege of Corinth, ]\Iay 2%, 1862; luka; Corinth, October 3d and 4th, 1862; the important battle at that place; Jackson, I\Iis- sissippi, Alay 14, 1863; attack on \'icks- burg. Ma)' 22, 1863; Richmond, Louisi- ana, June 16, 1863; second battle of luka; Mississippi ; Barns\'ille, Mississippi : third battle of luka: Mississippi Springs. Mis- sissippi: V'icksburg. June 24, 1863. He engaged in all the important engagements of the Western department, and the last battle was Spanish Fort, Louisiana. The service Avas long and hard, but he did his duty man- fully for the preseTN'ation of the Lhiion. After leaving the army our suliject lo- cated in Forestxille, Door count)', Wiscon- sin, and engaged in farming and taught scIkioI during the winter months, and in January, i867,rem(jved to Richland county, where he was engaged in the same calling. He remained there until November 20, 1880, when he removed to his present home in the village of Lavalle, Sauk county, and has lield continuous r-esidence there since. Mr. McWilliams bad four sisters who died in infancy, and four brothers, as fol- lows: Edward: John died July 4, 1^94, in \ ernon county ; George, residing in New- ton, \'ernon count\' : and James, em- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ri3 ploved in the flnur mill in La\alle. Ira Mc- W'illiams was married at Anna]:)ee, Ke- waunee county, Wisconsin, December i, 1867, to Mrs. Eliza Greeley Hartman, daugh- ter of Ephraim and Catharine Greeley. Mrs. McWilliams' father was born July 4, 1787, and died in Racine, Wisconsin, !May 28, 1846. Her mother was borii in Canada, March 22, 1812, and died in Richland county, W'iscdusin, June 10, 1879. Ephraim Greeley was a nephew of Horace Greeley, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. McWilliams was born in AJendon, New York, April 22, 1843, and went with her parents to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1844, antl to Racine county, Wisconsin, in 1845. ^J^r. McWilliams is a member of the G. A. R., and is commander of the local post. No. 49. He served as postmaster of Lavalle under Harrison's administraticju, and was \illage clerk f(jr a number of years. He is a stanch Republican in political faith, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is efficient in business, honest in his deal- ings and respected by his fellow men. EDMUND N. SARGENT, Deceased. Edmund N. Sargent, deceased, for many years a prosperous farmer of New Haven township, who resided later in the village of Big" Spring, was one of the pn^minent settlers of Adams county, and did much to further the interests of his community. He was the fortunate possessor of a fine estate in New Haven township, and gained a com- petence sufficient to tide him through life, and gained for himself the respect of those who knew him in a social as well as finan- cial sense. Mr. Sargent was born in Madrid, Maine, March 23, 1820, and was the son of John, Jr., and Hannah (Dunham) Sargent. His f:.ther was burn in Hubbleston, INIassachu- setts, and was of luiglish descent. He was a farmer and watchmaker by occupation, and both he and John Sargent, Sr., were pmni- inent citizens of Maine, and the latter served as a member of the state legislature. The mother of our subject was born in Maine, and was the daughter of Joseph and Abigail ( Bates) Dunham. Our subject resided on a farm in Maine until 1857, when he came to Adams coun- ty. Wisconsin, and located on land in Xew Ha\en townshij), where before his death he had a well im])ni\ed farm. He enlisted in Company V. Thirty-seventh Wiscmi'^in Volunteer Infantry, August 22, 1864, and ser\ed abmU ten months. He took part in numerous skirmishes in the vicinit}' of Petersburg, and although he escaped w ith- out a wound, was broken in health, from wdiich he ne\-er recovered, and during the past few years was an invalid. He was discharged from the service May 24, 1803. .V few years since Mr. Sargent remo\ed to the village of Big Spring, and retired from active farm labors. Our subject was married, i\Iarch 2^, 1843, to Sybil Clough, daughter of Moses and Polly (Davenport) Clough, natives of I\Jaine. Mrs. .Sargent's parents came to Wisconsin in 1850, and after spending one summer in Walworth county, moved to .Adams county, and resided in Xew Haven township rise. He stands well in the community, and is a mem- ber of the Otsego Baptist church. His in- fluence is for good and he is outspoken in his con\-ictions. A. D. DORSETT. A. D. Dorsett was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, May 2, 1867. His early vears were spent on a farm, and he attended country school during the winter months. In 1883 his father retired from the stock raising business and moved to Rushville, where the son had the [irivilege of attending an excellent high school and from which he COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ri9 graduated in 1886 as the valedictorian of his class. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Dorsett entered the preparatory school of DePauw Univer- sity at Greencastle, Indiana, and two years later was admitted to the freshman class. He graduated from the institution in 1892 with the degree of Ph. B. Mr. Dorsett's newspaper experience be- gan in his early 'teens, when, seated on a plow while the horse rested, he wrote items for a county seat paper. During his junior }-ear in college he was exchange editor of one of the college weeklies and during his senior ^-ear was editor-in-chief of the paper. At that time he was also president of the Irdiana College Press Association and chairman of the executive board of the \\"estern College Press z\ssociation. After school days were ended he spent two years in newspaper work in Alton, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, and in 1894 became a partner in the publication of the Baraboo daily and weekly "News." On May 2t„ 1894, Mr. Dorsett was imited in marriage to Miss Addie Lane Priest, of Greencastle, Indiana, witli whom he became ac(|uainted while in college. To them one daughter, Dorothy D., was born June 16, 1897. CAIA'IX L. McELWAIX. Calvin L. ]\IcEl\vain, a large land owner and prosperous farmer of Adams county, Wisconsin, residing on section 8, New Chester township, was l)orn in the town of Stamford, Bennington county, Vermont, February 4. 1826, and is a son of John and Dolly (Goodrich) McElwain, natives of Massachusetts, the former born in 1788, the latter in 1782. The father was colonel of a regiment in the Massachusetts militia, and was a lawyer by profession. He engaged in teaching school for many years and was also interested in the manufacture of cotton cloth, but lost three mills at different times. Fraternally he was an active member of the Masonic order. He died at the age of forty- two, his wife at the age of seventy-two years. Their children were John, Dolly, Betsy, David, Mary Ann, Electa and Cal- vin L. Mr. McElwain, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in his native state, and at Stamford, Verninnt. he v,as married, November 13, 1841, to ]Miss BetS}- Forbush, a daughter of Che\ar and Elizabeth Forbush, who moved to Elgin, Illinois, in 1849, and three years later came to Adams county, Wisconsin, where they made their home for some years, but about a half century ago they went to [Minneapolis, [Minnesota, where they spent the remainder of their lives. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. McElwain were several children namely: Imogen ; Grace, deceased ; John ; Arabel ; Ruel Bruce; and Bertha. Those living are all residents of Adams county. \\'isconsin. It was in 1857 that Mr. McElwain came to this state and took up his residence on section 8, New Chester township, Adams county, \\here he now resides. He first pur- chased eighty acres of government land, to which he added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he had one thousand one hundred and twenty acres, but he has since disposed of a portion of this and now has seven hundred and twenty acres, of which one hundred and twenty acres are un- der e-xcellent cultivation and well improved with good and substantial buildings. He is a progressive and energetic farmer, whose success in life is due entirely to his own v.-ell-directed efforts, and his career is such as to commend him to the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact. In politics he always affiliates 720 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ^\•itIl the Repu1)Iican party, and takes an acti\-e interest in liublic affairs. ALFRED \\'ILLCOX. Alfred Willcox, one of the most higlily esteemed citizens of Fort Winnebago town- ship, Columbia county, Wisconsin, is the possessor of a handsome property which now enables him to spend his declining years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumula- tions. The record of his early life is that of an active, enterprising, methodical and sagacious business man, who bent his ener- gies to the honorable acquirement of a com- fortalile competence for himself and famih-, but he is now living retired. A native of England, Mr. \\'illcox was born near ^^'ells, in the parish of Meare, Si)mersetshire, June 24, 1812, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Dyer) Willcox, who spent their entire lives there. One of their sons, Edward Willcox, Jr., was a man of fine physique, being over six feet high, and was a soldier in the British army for a num- ber of years. He was one of the first to scale the Chinese wall, for which he received a medal, and he also received another for com- mendable service in the army. Alfred ^^'illcox was engaged in farming in his native place until 1855, when he crossed the broad .Atlantic and took up his residence in Fort \\'innebago township, Columbia county, \Visconsin, where he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, paying for the same twelve hun- dred and fifty dollars. From time to time he bought more land, owning in all se\-en hun- dred and twenty-eight acres, which is still in possession of him and his sons. When he bought the land only a few acres of tim- ber had been cleared, but he toiled diligently early and late until he now has one of the most desirable farms in the county. He eventually had the satisfaction of seeing his farm improved with first-class buildings, and his crops were always among the best in the county. Several veins of silver ore ha^•e been found upon his land in Marcellon town- ship, but have never been developed. Hav- ing well earned a respite from labor, he has of recent years lived in retirement, enjoying the fruits of former toil. On the 23d of May, 1844, Mr. Willcox married Miss Ann Savage, who was born in Polsom, near Wells, England, January 19, 1810, a daughter of William and Sarah (Welch) Savage and granddaughter of James and Hester Savage. Her fatlier owned a fine farm at Polsom, upon \\hich be lived and died. While a young man he was a member of a troop organized at Wells, but was never called into active militar}- service. He received a silver_cup as a prize for ex- traordinary marksmanship, having hit the bullseye while riding at a gallop. His chil- dren were Ann, , James, William, Charles, Robert, Mary, Sarah, John, Hester, Jane and Christo]3her. The last named is a resi- dent of Toronto, Ontario, but Mrs. Willcox is the only one of the family living in the United States, though James has two sons, Albert and Sidney, living near Chicago, Illi- nois, and another son, James, in Kansas. Our subject and his wife have three chil- dren: John Alfred; Albert; and Sarah Ann, wife of Frank Day, all residents of Fort Winnebago township. They also have nine grandchildren, besides two adopted daugh- ters of Mr. and Mrs. Day. Some silver spoons over three liundred years old, once owned by Rebecca Brooks, the great-grand- nidther of ]\Irs. \\'illcox. are still preserved by her daughter, Mrs. Day. Notwithstanding their advanced age, Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are still in excellent health and retain their mental faculties in a remarkable degree. Thev were reared in COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. (21 the Episcopal faitli, but after coming; to Wisconsin helped organize the Xnrth Mar- cellon Baptist church, with which they are still identified. They are widely and fa- vorably known and well merit the high re- gard in which the\" are uniformly held. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Willcox has affiliated with the Republican party, but has always declined official honors. JAMES S. WORTHMAN. James S. ^\'orthman, an intluential and well-to-do citizen of Baraboo. Sauk county. Wisconsin, ani ex-soldier and present city clerk, was born at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, May 17, 1841, and was the son of Samuel and Polly (Weeks) Worthman, the father a native of Galloway, Scotland, and the mother a native of Ed- gartown, Massachusetts. The father of our subject left his nati\e land before he reached his majorit}', and emigrated to Buenos Ayres, South America, v.here he was employed as foreman in a large cooper establishment, that being his trade. He remained there two years, and then came to the United States, and settled at New Haven, Connecticut, and later went to Martha's Vineyard, where he married. He became a seaman and spent about twenty- five years on the ocean, and owned con- siderable sea property, vessels, etc. Fearing his sons would take to the sea, he decided to seek a new Eldorado, and accordingly came to Wisconsin with his family, and located at the town of East Troy. He purchased a farm and gave up the sea, and after a few years his two oldest sons died, and he then sold the farm and moved to Mukwonago, where he loaned money and spent some' years, and afterward moved to Sauk coun- ty, where he died in the spring of 1868. He had made and saved a competence and liis last days were spent in comparative ease. His wife survived him until the fall ot the same year. Her maiden name was Polly ^^'eeks, and she was a daughter of Benjamin Weeks, a native of England, and a sea captain in the inerchant service, and during the Revolutionary war kept a hotel at Martha's Vineyard. He was a descendant of Sir George Osborn, of England. Mrs. Worthman's brother, James Weeks, fol- lowed the merchant service and died at Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Worth- man, while a sea-faring man, was a strong Aljolitionist. He was \-ery proficient in his business, and at one time was assistant ganger at Boston. He was a son of Thomas Worthman, a captain of his own boat, who was drowned in St. George's Channel. The family adhered strictly to the Presbyterian faith and the children were reared in that denomination. Cajjiain and Mrs. \Vorth- man were the parents of seven children, as follows; JMargaret, wife of Senator Starks, who was also state prison commissi(_)ner, and a very prominent man, both now deceased ; L)-dia P., who married Joseph Consal, of ^Missouri; Mary, now ]\Irs. John Young, whose husband is a resident merchant of Reedsburg, Wisconsin ; Jane O. married Isaac Harland, of Waukesha, Wisconsin; Thomas died in 1848; Benjamin died in 1848; and James S., our subject. All tlie children were born at Edgarton, Martha's Vineyard. J. S. Worthman resided at home on his father's farm until it was necessary to im- prove his education, \\hen he went to Bara- boo, Wisconsin, at the age of sixteen years, to attend school, and at the age of seven- teen he joined the expedition and went to Sidney A. Johnston's command to Utah to quell the Mormon uprising in that territory. He was employed by the government at COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. scouting and herding, and foi' any work whicli he was called upon to do, and suffered hardships and cold winters. He was located at Fort Bridger and made trips to Denver before that was a city of any size, and well understood the hardships of a soldier's life. Nevertheless, in 1S62. he enlisted in the Badger Guards, which afterward became Company F, of the Twenty-eighth Wiscon- sin Infantry, and he was with his regiment in all their engagements and skirmishes. He' was assigned to the Western department and was in Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. He entered as corporal and re- turned as first lieutenant of Company F, Twenty-eighth \Visconsin Volunteer Infan- try. He was never wounded or captured, and after the close of the war returned to Wisconsin and settled on a farm at Excel- sior, Sauk county, and engaged in shipping live stock, grain and produce, and cooperage stock for several years, and in 1876 moved to Baraboo, where he has since resided. Mr. Worthman was married, in 1864, to Miss Ursula A. Bixby, a native of Sus- quehanna county, Pennsyhania. Mrs. Worthman was rearetl on a farm and her father died when she was a young girl and she and her widowed mother settled in Wis- consin, where the mother died, leaving the following children: lidmund ; Alvina; and Ursula, our subject's wife. Mrs. Worth- man was a lady of good education and was a public school teacher. She died about 1871, and was the mother of three children : Lu- ella, who died in childhood; Theodore J., ■wdio is now an express agent; and Arthur J., the station agent of the Chicago & North- western Railroad at Baraboo. She was a con- sistent member of the Congregational cluirch. Air. Worthman married Miss Mary E. Martindale, of St. Lawrence county. New York, about 1873. Mrs. Worthman came west with her father and acquired a liberal education, was a teacher and was unexcelled in her profession. Two children were born of this union, as follows : Harry L., niiw employed by a railroad company; and Keid, attending high school at Bara- boo. IsIy. \\'orthman holds membership in the Masonic fraternity. Ancient Order of United \Vorkmen, and Ci. A. R. In the last named he has been a member of Joe Hooker Post for sixteen }ears, and has been ad- jutant and cc immnnder of the post and prom- inently identilied with tlie G. A. R. At the incorporation of the city of Baraboo, in 1882, Mr. \\'orthman was elected alderman from the second ward, which office he held three years, and in 1885 was elected town clerk, which office he yet holds. He is close- ly identified with the important movements in that city, and is deservedly held in high esteem. JOSIAH HEMMINGWAY ROGERS, LL. B., B. A. Josiah Hemmingway Rogers, LL. B., B. A., has attained distinction as one of the ablest members of the Portage, Columbia county bar. In this profession, probably more than in any other, success depends upon indi\-idual merit, upon a thorough un- derstanding of the ])rinciples of jurispru- dence, a ])ower of keen analysis, and the ability to present clearly, concisely and forcibly the strong points in his case. Pos- sessing these necessary qualifications, Mr. Rogers is accorded a foremost place in the ranks of the profession in Columbia county, and stands to-day as one of the most es- teemed meml)ers of the Portage bar._ He was born in Whitby, Ontario coun- ty, Canada, July 27, 1841, a son of Benja- min Joslyn and Esther (Hemmingway) Rogers. On both sides he is of English COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ris descent. His parents' ancestors came to this country from London, England, during tlie seventeenth century, and located in Connect- icut. His grandfather, Benjamin Rogers, was a native of Massachusetts, and removed to Canada during the latter part of the eight- eenth century. His son, Benjamin J., the father of our subject, was born in Eaton, Quebec, and spent his later years in tlie province of Ontario, dying at Oshawa, in 1887, at th? ripe old age of eighty-five years. He followed the occupation of farming and aiso engaged in preaching as a minister of the Christian church. As a business man he met with excellent success, and as a citi- zen took an active and prominent part in public affairs and political movements. His estimable wife, wdio was a native of ^lark- ham, Ontario, died in 1885, at the age of seventy-five years. She was a daughter of Moses Hemmingway, whose ancestors were from New England and who removed to Canada from Cayuga county. New York. After completing the course in the gram- mar schools at Oshawa, Ontario, Josiah H. Rogers entered Victoria University, at Co- burg, Ontario, where he pursued a classical course and was graduated in 1866, with the degree of B. A. He also received the gold medal for the highest scholarship in his class. Subsequently for a year and a half he studied law at Osgood Hall, in Toronto, and then entered the law department of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1868. The same year he came to Portage, Wisconsin, and was at once ad- mitted to the bar. He began practice at Poynette, Columbia county, but since April, 1 87 1, has made his home in Portage and has engaged in the general practice of law at that place with most gratifying results. For three terms, from 1874 until 1880, he served as district attorney, being the only incumbent in the office for that length of time. As such he secured eleven con\'ic- tions at one term of court, and seven of those sentenced to the penitentiary at that time were taken to that institution by the sheriff at one trip. One of the most co.nspicuous criminal cases with which he has been con- nected was the defense of Clarence H. Wells, a brakeman on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, who was accused of criminal negligence in connection with a w-reck at East River, Wisconsin, in 1886, v.dien twenty-five or more lives were lost. The case naturally attracted much public at- tention and Mr. Rogers succeeded in secur- ing the acquittal of his client. On the 1 2th of June, 1872, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Miss \'iola J. Padley, who was born in York Mills, near Utica, New York, a daughter of Abraham and Mary A. (Walker) Padley, of Portage. The father, who was a teacher of music and gave instruction in that art to more people in Columbia county than any other ten per- sons, came to Wisconsin in 1856, and died in Portage, October 15, 1897, at the age of s-'xty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers liave three children : Edith Ethelyn, born September 19, 1875, is now the wife of A. '\\'. Pollard, of Portage; Sheldon Wallace, born September i, 1877, is a student in the law department of the State University, Madison, Wisconsin; and Harlan Bethune, born December 9, 1886, is at home. Mr. Rogers and his family are connect- ed with the Presbyterian church, and he has served as trustee of the same for a num- ber of years past. Socially he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity and Poynette Lodge, >Jo. 173, A. O. U. W., and politically is prominently identilied with the Republican party in his county. He has served as chair- man of the county committee several years, as a delegate to a number of state conven- tions, and has frequently been called upon to make political speeches in Columbia and ri'4 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. adjoining counties. He represented the tliird ward of Portage on the county board of supervisors for eight years, and for three years of that time was chairman of the board. He also served as mayor of Port- age in 1887, and iiUed the office of city at- torney for five or six years. As district at- tornc}' the affairs of tiie county were never better managed in that direction than under his prosecution, as he proved a most efficient man for the place and was a veritable terror to evil doers. He is not only an able law- yer, but is also a good business man, and is one of the directors of the City Bank and a stockholder and director of the Portage Hosiery Company, both of Portage. THOMAS PETTIGROVE COLBY. The vast farming interests of Adams county have been prominent factors in the business world of Wisconsin, and among tliose who have spent the greater part of a useful career within the borders of that county, the gentleman whose name heads this per,sonal history should l)e accorded a prominent place. He came to this region Vv'ith his parents when the land was not yet surveyed, and assisted in bringing the agri- cultural pursuit to its present high standard in Adams county. Mr. Colby was engaged in general farming in Quincy township, and possessed a fine estate comprising two hun- dred acres, all of which he acquired by dint of his own energetic efforts, supplemented Ijy his honest dealings. This he held until lately. He is now a resident of Thorp, Wis- consin. Our subject w-as born in Topsfield, Washington county, Maine, February 12, 1840, and was the son of Jonathan Corliss and Sarah Ann (Pettigrove) Colby. His father was born in Bradford, Vermont, Oc- tober 2, 1806, and died July 23, 1887, at Easton, Adams county, Wisconsin. The mother of our subject was born at Calais, Maine, August 27, 1809, and died at Easton, Wisconsin, July 9, 1895. The father was a farmer by occupation and settled in Tops- field, Maine, where he remained until 1850, when he moved to what is now Easton, Adams county, Wisconsin. At that time it was Indian land and' not on the market. He was the first settler with land on the banks of White Creek, and his family of five children were the first white children to reside in that region. They were as follows : Thomas, our subject ; William, now residing in Clark county; Harriet A., now Mrs. Waterman, of Kilbourn; Lucy, now Mrs. W. Eddy, of Easton; and Mary, now Mrs. F. York, of Monroe Centre. Two other chil- dren were born, as follows : Annie E. died April 20, 1897; and Warren L, now resid- ing on the old homestead in Easton town- ship. On his arrival at Easton the father surveyed one hundred and sixty acres of bnd and entered a claim, and cleared the land and erected a shanty, into which he moved his family, and remained (in the farm until his death. When the township of Easton was organized he was chosen supervisor. He was a man of retiring dis- position and did not accept public office. He was a hard worker and accumulated a good estate. He was a consistent member of the United Brethren church, and a man respected by all in the community for his honesty and good citizenship. Thomas P. Colby was the oldest of the children and of necessity was early put to work to assist in the support of the family. He had gained some schooling before com- ing to Wisconsin, but afterward did not have the opportunity to attend school. He remained with his parents until he reached his majority, when he married, and he and his family resided on land which his wife COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. owned, for eigliteen years, in Easton town- s\.\\). In 1878 he purchased two hundred acres in Ouincy township, and moved his family to tliat estate, and he is still living on the farm. !Mrs. Colby's maiden name was Louisa (ioodrich. Her parents died when she was but a young girl, and she \vas adopted by a family of the name of Raney. At the time of her marriage she was in possession of one hundred acres in Easton township. Her death occurred June 18, 1891, aged sixtv-four years. Four children were born to Air. and Mrs. Colby, as follows: Francis E., born April 7, 1861, now residing in Thorp, Clark county, Wisconsin; Clara A., born April 27, 1862, now Mrs. A. H. Green- wood, of Quincy; Daniel G., born April 3, 1864, now a resident of Thorp, Clark county; and Charles L., born November 24, 1867, now residing on the homestead. Charles L. Colby was married September 8, 1890, to Josephine A. Mihm, daughter of Constantine and Margaret Mihm, of Quincy. Three children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Colby, as follows: Charles K., born March 13, 1891 ; George D., born April 11, 1892; and Alfred D., born October 4, 1896. They are an interesting" group of boys and complete a pleasing family circle. CHRISTOPHER EDWARD BOHN. Christopher Edward Bohn, who is suc- cessfully conducting various business enter- prises, is a man of more than ordinary en- ergy and ability. He is one of the most ex- tensive lumber manufacturers of Sauk coun- ty and is also proprietor of a fine estate, on which he conducts cheese making together Avith general farming. His buildings on the ])lace form a portion of the town of Lime Ridge, and the estate is a valued and pro- rk, Ireland, and departed this life January 11. 1SS6, at the age of fifty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Hickey were the parents of three sons and three daughters: Mary is the wife of Will- ic'un Hayes, of the town of Dellona; Cath- erine died December 20, 1894, at the age of thirty-six years; Martin is a well-known business man of Reedsburg; Michael car- ries on the homestead farm ; John is also in business at Reedsburg; and Anna also re- sides on the homestead farm. Nine grand- children also delight the heart of Mr. Hickey and an extensi\-e circle of friends unite in ^\ishing him continued life and happiness. DAVID ROBERTSON. David Robertson, now leading a quiet and retired life at Rio, Columbia county, has been one of the chief promoters of the growth and development of that thriving vil- lage. He was born in Beath. Scotland, in 1839, and was a son of Robert and Marian (King) Robertson. His father li\'ed on a farm owned by his grandfather, but was not willing to spend his life amid the narrow opportunities of the old world, and about 1840 came to Canada, settling near Ham- ilton, Ontario. There he claimed and cleared a farm out of the virgin forest. He was a man of much character, and al- most reached the age of ninety-two years. His wife died many years before him, when she was only about fifty. She was a descendant or' the Kings of Giffen Mills, Scotland, and a sister of William King, of Cambria, of whom notice appears on another page of this record. She was the mother of five sons and five daughters : James, Winnebago City, Minnesota; Janet, Mrs. William Chis- holm, deceased ; Robert, Arlington, Wis- consin; Margaret, widow of Robert Mc- Conochie ; Jane, Hamilton, Ontario ; Will- iam, Arlington, Wisconsin ; John, Lancas- ter, Ontario ; David ; Marian, Mrs. Ji ihn Stewart, Lancaster, Ontario; Agnes, Mrs. Peter Stewart, Lancaster, Ontario. Mr. Robertson left his home in Canada in 1 861, and came into Columbia county, and spent the next five years at farm labor. After this time had passed he engaged in lumbering at Mannville and Warrens. Wis- consin, in company with F. M. Thompson. The firm did an extensive wholesale business for a number of years. In 1882 Mr. Rob- ertson settled in Rio, and established a lum- I>er business in this village, dealing also in grain and farm produce. He was very suc- cessful in this venture, and in 1893 retired from everything except lumber. Five years later he gave up all business activities and is now spending his last years in peace and comfort. He has led an active and honorable career, working hard and giving ah his en- ergies to his business, and now he is getting what rest and satisfaction there can be found in the reflection that he has "fought a good fight, and has kept the faith." When he came to Rio it consisted of about a dozen houses on the south side of the railroad. He bought one hundred and twenty acres, which he platted and subdivided, and the best part of the village now stands upon that ground. He has erected a number of resi- dences and business places, several of which he still owns. His own commodious and COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 731 elegant home was put up in 1892, and stands upon one of the principal streets of the town. He was married in Tf^73 to Miss Emily S. Brown. She has made him the father of four children, one of whom, Daxid, died in infancy. Those living are: John; Alice Emma (Mrs. George Phelps), Rio; and Essie Isabella, who is. at home. There are four grandchildren in the family. Mrs. Robertson's father, David Brown, was born in London, England, and was em- jjloyed as a tea tester b\- a whnlesalc house in that city. He came to \\'isciinsin in 1855, and settled on a farm near Dekorra, where he died when over eighty years of age. An ancestor of his wife was a steward on the estate of Lord Salisbury, a progenitor of the present premier of England. Mr. Robert- son is a Mason of most excellent standing, and is affiliated with the Rio lodge. Since coming to the United States he has been a Republican, and is proud of the fact that he was able to vote for Grant in 1868. He has never been an active politician, though he has from time to time filled certain local offices. He retains, however, what he has always exhibited — a keen interest in any measure calculated to advance the interests of the village of Rio. THOMAS C. KERSHAW. Thomas C. Kershaw is one of the hon- ored veterans of the Ci\il war, whose de- votion to his country was tested not only by service on the field of battle but in the still more deadly dangers of southern pris- ons. This gallant soldier is now success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 3, New Ha\'en township. Adams county, Wisconsin. Mr. Kershaw' was born June 22, 1833, in Larne, county Antrim, Ireland. His fa- ther, William ]\I. Kershaw, was born in the same place, in February, 1807, and in his native land folIowe])e-maker's trade. In 1845 lie came to the United States and located in \\'est Troy, New York, where he remained eight years while working on the canal. In 1853 he came to New Haven township, Adams county, Wisconsin, where he entered two hundred and eighty acres of government land, which he at once l)egan to improve, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, as he died March 15, 1862. In 1829 he married Miss Catherine Clark, A\ho was born in Newtownards, county Down, Ireland, in January, 1798, and to them were born children : Wdliam J., Thomas C, Catherine and Mary A. The latter is the w^ife of Robert Warner, of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin. William J. was for siime years a prominent citizen of Adams county, and represented his district in the lower house of the state legislature and also in the senate. In the fall of 1862 lit was commissioned captain of Company K, Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try, and joined the army in Tennessee, In the battle of Shiloh he w'as slightly wound- ed and in the fall of 1862 he came home on a sick furlough. After his recovery he was deputy provost marshal for this section of the state, and ser\-ed in that capacity for four months. Later he was commissioned major of the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry. In the battle of Peters- burg he was shot through both legs and sent to Alexandria hospital in the District of Columbia. .After his recovery he re- joined his regiment and took part in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Deep Bottom and Chapin's Farm, and \vas mustered out in the spring of 1865. He died in Kilbourn City, April 5, 1883. Thomas C. Kershaw accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, and came with them to Adams countv, Wiscon- ISi COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. sin. He received a common-school educa- tion and in early life worked on the home farm, in the pineries and upon the river. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, New Haven township, sixty acres of which are under excellent culti\ation and forty acres in meadow land. He is engaged in di\'er- sified farming and is meeting with well mer- ited success. (3n the 5th of August, 1879, Mr. Ker- shaw was united in marriage with Miss Adaline Stafford, who was born in Madison, Wisconsin, June 26, 1852, a daughter of Daniel Stafford, of New Haven township. She was educated in the common and high schools of her native city, and was granted the first teacher's certificate under Thomas Freeman, county superintendent of schools for Adams county. Before she was sixteen years of age she began teaching and suc- cessfully followed that profession in Adams county for eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Ker- shaw have three children: Robert \V., born August 5, 1880, is at home; Jennie K., born December 10, 1882, was educated in the Kilbourn high school, and is now engaged in the pul:)lic schools of Adams county; and Katie, born November 7, 18S7, is at home. In 1864 Mr. Kershaw joined the boys in blue as a member of Company K, Thirty- seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was in front of Petersburg from June 29 to July 30, when he was taken prisoner. After being held at Petersburg for a time, he was sent to Danville, Virginia, where he re- mained six months, and then to L-il)l)y prison, where he was incarcerated for six weeks. He was then paroled at Richmond and sent to the parole cam]) in Annapolis. He was mustered out at St. Louis, May 30, 1865. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a quiet, un- assuming citizen, but his friends and neigh- bors recognize his worth and abilitv and have called him to several local offices, the duties of which he has most capably and sat- isfactorily discharged. He has been town supervisor several times, has filletl a number of school ofiices, and is now district treas- urer. \\TLLIAM ANDRUS. William Andrus, the well-known and efficient superintendent of the Sauk county poor farm and insane asylum, was born in Avon, Lorain coinitv, Ohio, October 21, 1840, a son of Edwin and ]\Iacena (Abjure) Andrus, who were among the prominent pioneers and highly respected citizens ui Sauk county, ^\'isconsin. The name of An- drus or Andrews is one of the oldest in his- tory and has been common in England for several centuries. The founders of the fam- ily in America were John Andrews and his wife, Mar}-, whu settled in Farmington (then called Tunxis), Connecticut, in i()40. Me died in i08i and she in 1694. Their de- scendants h'cwe modified the spelling of the name; Andrus, Andros and Andrews being the most pre\alent forms. The posterit^■ of John Andrews included some of the most conspicuous citizens of Connecticut during the colonial period and in more recent times. Edwin Andrus, father of our subject, was a natixe of Glastonbury, Connecticut, whence he went to Sullivan county. New York, and in 183 1 to Ohio, where he carried on a sawmill for a numljer of }-ears. In 1854 he came to Sauk comity, Wisconsin, and cleared up a large farm in Reedsburg township, owning two hundred and forty acres at the time of his deatli, which oc- curred A])ril 14, 1883, when he was se\'- ent3r-seven years of age. He was reared in the Baptist faith, but liecanie a Unitarian in. his religious views, and was always a COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 7b3 Christian in practice and precept. In po- litical sentiment he was a Democrat. He was always very kind to the Indians, who c;im]ied in considerable numbers near his house and held him in high reg'ard. He first married Susan Gillett, by whom he had one daughter, Mrs. Frank Avery, of Bara- boo, now deceased. Mrs. Macena Andrus, the mother of our subject, was born at Wills- boro, New York, July 22, 1810, and died May 20, 1896. She was also reared in the Baptist faith. Her father, Joseph Moore, who sprang- from an old colonial family, was a native of Massachusetts, and at the age of sixteen entered the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. in which he served six years or more. His brcjther, John, was killed in a massacre by the Indians dur- ing that struggle. Four sons of Joseph Moore, Norman, Theron, Joseph and Seth, were all soldiers of the war of 1812, as well as two sons-in-law, and all participated in the battle of Lake Champlain. The subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth in a famih' of five children, the others being Ranson M., a resident of Baraboo, Wisconsin; /Amelia, wife of F. M. McClure, of Reedsburg township, Sauk county; Adelaide, wife of O. B. Titus, of Reedsburg; and Rosette, deceased wife of H. Sorge. W^illiam Andrus was a lad of fourteen years when he came with his parents to Sauk countv, and for fifteen years he op- erated the saw-mill which his father erected two years after their arrival, manufactur- ing considerable hard wood lumber. In 1864 he purchased a 'farm of one hundrcil and sixty acres in Reedsburg township, which he still owns. He alsn li\"ed several years in the city of Reedsburg while edu- cating his children. On the 26th of March, 1864, Mr. An- drus married Miss Adarene C. Terrall, who was b(irn in North Ridgevillc. Ohio, and came to Wisconsin in 1863. Her parents were Gillespie and Lucretia (Tucker) Ter- rall, the former born in North Ridgeville, Ohio, in 1824, the later in Canandaigua countv, New York. Her grandfather, Icha- bod Terrall, removed from New England to Ohio in 1810, and took with him the coat of arms of the fanfily. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrus are as follows: Mary Belle is now the wife of Jolm Brum- mitt, of Spokane, Washington. .Vdelaide Amelia is the wife of Charles Umsted. of the same place. William Terrall, who at- tended the Wisconsin University for three years, is now carrying on the homestead farm. Frank C, who was connected with the Merchants Retail Collecting Agency for some time, died December 22. 1893. aged twentv-four years. He is supposed to have Ijeen murdered, as his body was found in the Chicago river in March, 1894. Ruliert C. has for .several years been emplnyed in the Sauk county institutions of which his- father has charge. All of the children re- ceived good high school educations. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Andrus are Unitarians, and in his social relations he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Wiirkmen. I'lilitically he aftiliates w^th the Democratic [larty, but is not a politician in the sense of oi^ce seeking, though he has held a number of township offices. Since December, 1891, Mr. and ?\lrs. Andrus ha\"e been in charge of the Sauk county poor farm and insane asylum and have wrought many remarkable reforms in the conduct of those institutions and in their equipments. The county farm com- Ijrises three hundred and twenty acres of land, one-half of which is co\cred with timber, and from this fi\e hundix-d cords of wood are cut and used annuall\-. Since our subject took charge the buildings have been more than douliled in size, and man\' con- veniences and impro\ements ha\e been in- 7M COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. troduced. An adiiiiraljle system of water works and electric lights have been fitted up aiKl the work of carrying- on the institution hias been greatly simplified, while adding very much to the comfort and convenience of both inmates and employes. Telephone connection has been established with the city of Rccdsburg, five miles distant. There is an average of forty inmates in the county house and one hundred in the asylum, pa- tients from six other counties being accom- modated in the latter institution. The most noteworthy feature of the establishment is the uniform quiet and harmony wdiich pre- vails among the inmates. Both Mr. and ]\Jrs. Andrus have the peculiar faculty of securing the confidence and exerting a pow- erful influence over the unfortunates (jlaced in their charge. The patients are allowed the utmost liberty and take pride in merit- ing the confidence reposed in them. Doors are ne\er locked night or day, and force is A'ery rarely ref|uired to carry out the rules of the establishment. In this respect the Sauk county asylum is a model of its kind. Tliough many insane patients are i^ro- nounced incurable Vv'hen returned from the state hospital at Mendota, a number have been jiractically cured by the humane meth- ods ])racticed by Mr. and Mrs. Andrus. Re- ligious services are conducted regularly, and though attendance is not compulsory, most o: the inmates participate. There are some talented musicians among them and the ex- ercise of this and other wholesome amuse- nients is encouraged. HON. WINSLOW BULLEX. This gentleman, whose home is in Ar- lington, Columbia county, caiuKit rightfully be rimitted from any list pretending to re- capitulate the names of the honored and helpfiU citizens of Columbia county. He has been an industrious and upright farmer litre for many years. He h.as taken an act- i\c [lart in public affairs, and his actions have been determined by motives of right and public welfare. He has dealt in trade and conducted a considerable ctjmmercial eitablishment, and his reputation as a busi- ness man is unblemished. He has been a member of the genera! assembly of the state of Wisconsin, and his vote and voice were always for higher and better public inter- ests. \Vinslow Bullen was born in Oswego county. New York, April 27, 1826, and is a son of David and Jane (Murdie) Bullen, the former being of English descent and the latter Scotch. The grandfather of the subject of this article, Captain Bullen, was an. officer in the American Revolutionary forces, and the family traces its ancestry back to Queen Anne Boleyn. David Bullen and family came west in 1836. He made -the journey overland in the winter in a cov- ered sleigh, wdiile his family followed by boat to Milwaukee, and there the boat drift- ed ashore in a storm. From there they pro- ceeded by wagon to Pike River, Kenosha county, where Mr. Bullen had settled. They remained there, doing fairly well until 1850, \^'hen Mr. Bullen mo\-ed himself and family to \\'ashington county. In 1857 Mrs. Bul- len died in that county, and her death broke up the home. Mr. Bullen came to Arlington, v.'here his sons were already settled, and niade his home with them until his death in 1870. He was the father of three girls and five boys : James, deceased ; Winslow, the subject of this narrative; Jane married Nel- son Hull, and has her home in Marathon county, Wisconsin; David, Arlington; Mary became Mrs. Brown and is now dead ; Will- iam lives at Sioska, Wisconsin; and Sarah- is Mrs. W^estcott, of Marathon county. When Mr. Bullen came to Wisconsin Mil- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. ri35 waukee had but one house with a shingled roof, and Racine was but a collection of iiuts. He was then about ten years old and had attended school in New York. So wild and unsettled a i"egion as Wisconsin at that time could afiford little or no opportu- nity for school work for some years. Finally there was a select school opened near his hiome in Kenosha county, which he was glail to attend. Me remained at home and worked with his lather until he was about twenty- eight years of age, when he bou.ght a quar- ter-section of land in Washington county, to which he devoted himself for some years. He also purchased a hundred and twenty acres of especially choice land in the town of Arlington, and he made it his home in 1856. Here he lived and labored until 1882, \vhen he moved into the village of Arling- ton, and entered int(> a store, and established c|uite a reputation as an honorable and up- right tratlesman. He has now^ given up act- i\e business laljors, and is spending his last days in [)eace and (juiet among the neigh- bors and scenes of his most busy day. Mr. Bullen and Salina F. Gilmore were married November 27, 1852. She was a daughter of Kelsey and Clarinda (Hins- dale) Gilmore, natives of \'erniont, who came to Kenosha county at an early date. Mr. Gilmore died April 21, 1850, and hi^ wife, October 29, 1846. They were the jwr- er;ts of nine children, all of whom have passed o\'er to join the great majority. Mr. and Mrs. Bullen have had five children, all of whom are living: Sarah Ellen, William Kelsey, David Murdie, Mary Eleanor and Jennie Elmira. They all reside in Arling- ton. Mr. Bullen is a Republican through and through and has held many public of- fices. He has been town clerk and was chairman of the town board some four or five years; and in 1869 was elected to the state legislature from the second assembly district of Columbia county. DuiMug his term the important ciuestions of the removal cl the capital to Milwaukee and the control of the Eau Claire river came up, and he was much interested in the result, as imi>i >rtant interests depended upon the outcome, ^^''ill- iam Price, afterwards a member of con- gress, was a colleague of his at that time. He has taken an active part in public labors, and has been a leading man in his com- munity. Very largely a self-educated man, bv his native force of character and executive aljility he has made himself felt in the ci.'unty. NED C. WOOD. Among the sturdy, energetic and suc- cessful farmers of Adams county, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they f(_illi)W and are consequently enabled to carry on their calling with profit to them- selves, is the subject of this sketch, who is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Springville township. Mr. Wood was born in Ludlowville, Tompkins county. New Y(jrk, iVugust 4, 1851, a son of Amasa and Isabella (Clark) Wood, prominent citizens of that county, where the father was engaged in the manu- facture iif furniture. The maternal grandfa- ther, Daniel Clark, was a quartermaster in the war of 1812, and the great-grandfather, Colonel Ji-ihn Harper, served with distinction as a C(>l(Tnel in the Revolutionary war. The latter was very wealthy. During his boyhood Ned C. Wood re- ceived a good common-school education, and he worked in his father's furniture shoj) un- til sixteen years of age, when he came to Wisconsin, locating in Friendship, Adams county, May 4, 1868. After living with his Ijrother-in-law, J. W. Shaw, for a short time, he worked for James Hinman, a well-known rsG COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY farmer, for several _vears, durino- wliich time by industry and economy he managed ti; save some money. Later he spent sev- eral years on the J- !'• Shultz farm, and had charge of the Shaw farm one year. At dif- ferent times he lived on other farms, and in 1887 purchased the Murray Hay farm at Twin \'alley, upon which he has made many impro\cnients and which he now success- full}- operates. jNlr. Wood was married, September 17, 1879, to Miss Anna E. Cook, who was born near Ibirnellsville, Steuben county. New York, May 24, 1857, a daughter of Ora and Rosella (Donaldson) Cook. The Cooks were land owners and well-to-do farmers of Steuben county, and people of prominence in the community. Mrs. \\'ood's father was b(jrn in New York, and when four years old Mrs. \\'ood came to Wisconsin with her mcither. locating at Billings Ferry, Adams county. Her mother lived on the Hinman farm for a time, in a house on the west side of the road, and then bought prop- erty in Ulin. She died May 29, 1869, and the daughter, now Mrs. Wood, then made her home with James Hinman. She attend- ed the country school and the high school of Kilbourn City, and at the age of seventeen began teaching school in Twin \'alley. Later she taught in several different coun- ties and successfully followed that pursuit for six years. Our subject and his wife have two children : Glen C, born May 20, 1881, and John F., born May 12, 1891. The former is now in Delton, Sauk county. Politically Mr. Wood affiliates with the Republican party and he has capably filled several township and school offices. Frater- nally he is a member of the Masonic order, the IModern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife are charter members of the Dells Home Forum, No. 181 3, of which he was elected treasurer, but declined to serve. ]\Irs. Wood has been a member of the Meth- I odist Episcopal church since seventeen years of age and has served as superintendent of the Sabbath school, in wdiich position she has done much toward starting the young in the right course. She ever takes an active and prominent part in all church work, and she and her husband well merit the high regard in which they are uniformly held. HON. JOHN KELLOGG. Perhaps no man in Reedsburg is better known or more highly esteemed than the present postmaster, John Kellogg, who has resided at that place for nearly half a century and from time to time has been prominently identified with a number of the most import- ant industries of that progressive citv. He has also taken quite an active and influential part in public affairs, and has been honored with a number of responsible offices. He was born in Dix, Steuben county, New York, December 11, 1833, a son of George and Hannah (Kellenger) Kellogg. His paternal grandfather, John Kellogg, lived and died on a farm in Cornwall, Con- necticut, and filled numerous local offices. His ancestiirs came from England to the new world and settled in Boston during the earlier days of the colony. The father of our subject \\'as a native of Cornwall, Litchfield cijunty, Connecticut, removed to New York al)out 1830. and in 1850 came to Wiscon- sin. After one season spent in Whitewater, he took up his residence in Reedsburg, and about i860 removed to a farm in Sumner township, Sauk county, upon which he spent the remainder of his life, dying in February, 1899, at the extreme old age of ninety years. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a man of decided \'iews, was a consistent member of the Methodist church, and was honored and re- spected by all who knew him. His wife and the mother of our subject was born COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 737 near the head of the Cayug-a Lake, in CaA'uga county, New York, and died in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in 1853, at the age (if forty-one years. John Kellogg came witli his parents to Reedsburg and completed his education in its public and select schools. He continued to assist his father in the operation of the home farm until the fall of 1857, when he opened a restaurant and grocery in Reeds- burg, which he successfully conducted for a time. Later he became a partner with A. L. Harris in a general mercantile store, and on selling his interest ni 1880 he purchased the Reedsburg Flouring Mills, which he carried on for several years with marked success. In 1882 he also became one of the l^artners in tlie Reedsburg Building & Lum- ber Company, and built a planing-mill on their property, but some time later the plant and a c|uantity of their lumber was destroyed by fire at considerable loss. After rebuild- ing the mill, Mr. Kellogg sold out to the present proprietors. Subsequently ill health I'jrevented him from engaging in active busi- ness for some years. On the 1st of Janaiary, 18 — , Mr. Kel- logg was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Chandler, of Beaver Dam, Wis- consin, who was born near Lake George, New York, and they have become the par- ents of two children, namely : Hettie M., now the widow of Bertine Pew and a resi- dent of Reedsburg; and Iva M., wife of A. K. Kellogg, of Fort Atkinson, W'iscon- sin. The family hold membership in the Methodist church of Reedsburg, which Mr. Kellogg assisted in organizing. He was one of the chief contributors to the erection of the present house of worship, and has also given liberally to the building of all other churches of Reedsburg. Socially he is an honored member of the blue lodge and chap- ter of the Masonic order of that city, for many years was secretary of the former branch ; and also belongs to St. John's Com- mandery, K. T., and has been financier of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for some years past. 'Mv. Kellogg's political support is always gi\en the men and measures of the Republi- can part}', and on its ticket was elected to the general assembly in 1873, in which au- gust body he served for one term with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was a member of the Republican county committee during the Greenback campaigns of 1876 and 1878, and has always worked efi:'ectively for the inter- ests of his party. In 1868 he was first ap- pointed postmaster of Reedslnn-g liy Presi- dent (irant and held the office until 1873, when he resigned in favor of A. L. Harris. He was again appointed to the same position in 1884, but was removed as an "offensive partisan" by President Cleveland the fol- lowing year. In June, 1898, he again took the office and is its present incumbent. When he first took charge of the same, in 1868, he was able to transact all the business alone, but two assistants are now required. He has been called upon to fill a number of town and village offices, including that of justice of the peace, which he held for four or five years, resigning upon his last ap- pointment as postmaster. While in that office he did most of the justice business in the city, was absolutely fearless in the dis- charge of his duties, and favor could not tempt him fnmi the straight path. His pub- lic and ])rivate life are above reproach, for his career has ever been one characterized l)y the utmost fidelity to duty. CAPTAIN GIDEON L0\^^ Among the gallant officers of the United States army, who were successfully placed in command of Fort Winnebago during the 738 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. maintenance of the garrison at that place, none are more kindly remembered by their contemporaries and none perhaps are better entitled to honorable mention in the annals of Columljia county than Captain Gideon Low. He was born in Ulster county, New York, November 15, 1779, and died at Port- age May 8, 1850. At an early age he en- tered the United States regular army and was commissioned an ensign June i, 1812. He served with distinction through the war of 1 81 2- 1 5, being promoted to second lieu- tenant of the Twenty-second Infantry in April, 1813, and ten months later became first lieutenant. He was v>-ounded in an engage- ment on Lake Ontario, receiving a scar which he bore to his grave. After the war his com- pany was disbanded and he spent about three years in private life at Easton, Penn- sylvania. Li 1 819 he was reinstated in the army and ordered to St. Louis. During the next nine years he was successively stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Ft. Edwards, Ft. Arm- strong and Fort Shelling. Li August, 1828, he receivetl a captain's commission and the same year was ordered to Green Bay. He made the trip to that place from St. Louis with his wife and two daughters in a small boat, going by way of "The Port- age," w'hich at that time could have been the habitation of no more than a few Li- dian traders, and probal^ly was not the home of a single white woman. In 1 83 1 Captain Low was ordered to Fort Winnebago, the construction of which had been commenced the previous year, but it was not completed when he arrived. Here ho served under Major Plimpton and other officers and eventually succeeded to the com- mand himself. During the Black Hawk war he saw considerable active service, and was sent at one time to reinforce Fort Atkinson while the notorious Sac chief was operating in that vicinity. It would probably be impossible to write a better account of life at the Fort than the description by Mrs. Kinzie in her famous book, "Wau-Bun." Among Captain Low's associates here were a number of men who afterwards achieved great distinction in both the United States and Confederate armies, as well as in civil life. February 29, 1840, he resigned his comniissi(.>n and spent the balance of his da_\"s in practical retirement. When the Winneljago Portage began to develop as a place of some commercial importance. Cap- tain Low realized the need of a place of entertainment fur travelers, and in 1838 he built the "Franklin House," the first regular hiitel in the ])lace. It was long famous as a place of entertainment and social inter- course. A store and postoffice were con- nected with the establishment and it was also used as a court house and for the transac- tion of other public business, until better accommodations could be provided. Captain Low also speculated to some e.xtent in lands, but was never very success- ful as a business man, being too free-hearted and hospitable to thrive in the capacity of landlord, and often extended shelter to peo- ple from w hom he never expected to receive any remuneration. He was ever fearless in the discharge of his duty, whether of a mil- itary or a civil nature. Captain Low was first married July 14, 1805, to Melissa Scriber, of Pleasant Val- ley, Dutchess county, New York. She died a few years later, leaving one son, Jacob, who became a prominent citizen of Colum- bia county, also a daughter, Mary Ann, who married, first. Captain Thomas Winship (by whom she had one son, George Henry Winship), second, John Schaumberg. On August 10, 1 81 5, Captain Low was married to Miss Margaret C. Foulk, daugh- ter of Stephen Foulk and Sarah (DeLap) COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. r39 Foulk, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Two daughters were born of this union, Mar- garet Foulk (now Mrs. Charles Temple), of Chicago, and Elizabeth Missouri (Mrs. Henry Merrellj, both of wIidui are now de- ceased. MARVIN E. LATHROP. Marvin E. Latlirop, whose pleasant home is in the town of Colburn, where he has a fertile and well-cultivated farm on section 12, near the postoffice of Hancock, is one of the successful agriculturists of Adams county, and he has been identified with its interests for many years. He is a native of the state, and was born m the town of Ontario, Waushara county, March 29, 1850. He is therefore in the very prime of his manly powers, and though fifty years have passed away, still the natural fire of his youth is not abated nor his strength exhausted. Mr. Lathrop comes of good old American stock, his ancestral lines running back into old colonj^ times. Ira R. Lathrop, his fa- ther, was born in Genesee county. New York, March 21, 1823, and his mother. Avis Alvira Foster, in the town of Greenwich, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, May 14, 1830. They were married September i, 1847, i" Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and at once took a prominent position in the community, a position they always main- tained. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Marvin, their eldest child, is the subject of this sketch. Annie is the wife of S. E. Brown, a prominent farmer and leading citi- zen of Brown county, Kansas. Frank moved to Emmett county, Iowa, where he has long been recognized as an upright and worthy citizen and a most capable farmer. His wife was known when a girl as Louisa Jenkins. Edgar married Mary Davis, and lives in Washington county, Kansas. He liad his home for a time in Brown count)^ of that state. Charles found his wife, Kate Ames, at Burnett, Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, and was long a resident of this state, but is now register of deeds at Algona, Iowa. Of these four boys, widely scattered and ex- posed to the temptations of frontier life, it is somewliat ren^arkable that they have all grown tu middle age without one nf them so much as learning the taste of malt or spirituous liquors. It is a fact that s]jeaks well for the high moral character of the home in which they were nurtured. The paternal Lathrop accompanied his fa- ther and mother to Indiana when he was only twelve }"ears old, and remained with them until he attained his majority. He was strong and sturdy, not afraid of hard work, a fact evidenced by his entering the Wisconsin pine woods, following a lumber- man's career for the winter. In 1846 he made his home in Green Lake county (then Marquette), where he lived for more than thirty 3'ears. In 1S79 he removed to Adams county, where he took possession of a choice farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which still continues to be his home. Throughout his life he has been an active and intelli- gent farmer. His upright character and manifest ability ha\e always commanded respect, and his neighbors have repeatedly commanded his services in public position. For many years he was a member of the board of super\-isors of the town of Berlin, Green Lake county. He was also treas- urer of Leola township, Adams county, one year. His father, Abiel Lathrop, was a miller in early life, and followed his trade in Connecticut, his native state. When somewhat advanced in years he removed to Indiana, took up a farm, and died after a long and godly life. He was for many )-ears a deacon in the close communion Baptist church, and was always found on the side c; right. r40 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Marvin Lathrop came to Adams county in 1 87 1, and from tliat time he lias been an honored resident of tlie count\'. Miss Orvilla A. Flyte became his wife, January 21, 1 87 1, and has proved everything that a loyal and devoted wife should be. Mr. Lathrop was county surveyor for nearly twenty years, and has also served on the county board. It is also worthy of note that there has not been a year since he entered the county that he has not held some town office of more or less importance. He lives on the old home farm, and in its manage- ment displays both industry and a compre- hensive knowledge of the possibilities of the agricultural world. Here he has a good house, a large barn and ample outbuildings, and at the present moment has some ninety acres under cultivation. He gives much at- tention to the raising of high-grade Jersey cattle, and has won considerable distinction as a breeder of desirable stock. He is a Re- publican, and a prominent Mason. He was a charter member of the Edwards Lodge, No. 268, at Hancock, and with his wife be- longs to the Eastern Star. He is now master of the local lodge, and has long been a faithful worker in the order. They are the parents of one child, Harry A., and have manv friends in the communitv. HENRY STECKELBERG. Henry Steckelberg is entitled to promi- nent mention among the progressive farm- ers of Sauk county. He has spent the greater part of his life in that region, and his labors for the advancement of the com- munity in which he has chosen his home make him one of the prominent and re- sjDected citizens. He is a son of the German Empire, but gives his services for the cause of his adopted land, and in every possible way has aided in transforming the wilder- ness which first met his eye into a pleasant and beautiful farming country. He has a home of more than usual comforts in West- field townshi]:). and his residence is on sec- tion 27. Our subject was born in Kirchweihe, Hanover, Germany, November 14, 1850, and was a son of Jahn G. and Mary (Lichte) Steckelberg, who were natives of the same locality. His mother died in her native land, at the age of forty-six years. The father was a farm laborer in Germany and came to the United States in 1868, and set- tled in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he died in Westfield township in 1887, aged sixty-six years. At the age of eighteen years our sub- ject came to Sauk county, Wisconsin, since which time he has lived in Westfield town- ship. He attended school two winters in Lodi, and soon acquired a knowledge of American ways and customs and the Eng- lish language. He purchased his present farm about seven 3'ears after coming to the county, and at the time there were but four or five acres of the land cleared for culti- vation. He is now the possessor of two hun- dred and forty acres of land, and has about one hundred and sixty acres cleared and tillable. He erected a commodious and sub- stantial brick house in 1884, and in 1896 built one of the largest barns in the county. It measures 40x104 feet and has a base- ment under the entire structure. He makes stock raising and dairying the features of the place, and does not engage extensively in grain raising. INIr. Steckelberg was married January 24, 1874, to Catharine Meyer, daughter of George and Catharine (Freese) Meyer. Mrs. Steckelberg was born in Repdorf, Hanover, Germany, and came to the LTnited States in company with her parents in 1872. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 741 The family settled in Westfield township, where the parents still reside. Six children, two of whom died in infancy, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steckelberg, the four sur- viving children named as follows : Henry ; Ida, now Mrs. Herman Licht, of Westfield township; Emma; and Rosella. The family are connected with the Lu- theran Zion church, of Westfield, and Mr. Steckelberg is an elder of the society. He is a man of great force of character and under his charge many of the substantial new bridges have been built and other im- provements made in the highways of the township. He has served as chairman of the township board since 1891, and his effi- cient service is appreciated by the citizens of his community. Politically he is a Demo- crat, and stands firmly for the principles of his part}'. FREMONT JAY CROSS. Fremont Jay Cross, a well-known busi- ness man of Cambria, is a native of the Badger state and traces his lineage from some of the oldest families in the United States. A number of his progenitors have won distinction in professional and military circles and their record as a whole is one to which any citizen might point with pardon- able pride. Mr. Cross was born in the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county, January 9, 1857. His parents were William Wallace and Jane H. (Strong) Cross and his pater- nal grandparents were Levi and Loa (John- son) Cross. Levi Cross was an industrious farmer, who lived and died in Jefferson county, New York. He was remotely of English lineage, but the exact time of the emigration of the family to America is un- known. Loa Johnson represented the sev- enth generation of her family in this countrv. being descended from John Johnson and his wife, Susanna, who came from Hern Hill, county of Kent, England, and settled at Andover, Massachusetts, previous to the year 1635. Their posterity is now scattered through nearly every state in the Union, and in many other places. Among the num- ber may be mentioned Professor Osgood Johnson, who was principal of Phillips Academy at Andover, from 1833 to 1837, Josiah Johnson, grandfather of Mrs. Loa Cross, served as a lieutenant in the Sixteenth Company, Fifth Regiment of Massachusetts Militia, during the Revolutionary war and his son, Othniel, father of Mrs. Cross, was a captain of infantry during the war of 1812. William W. Johnson, a brother of Mrs. Cross, was commissioned a lieutenant of ]\Iassachusetts militia in 1836, but as far as known was never called into active service. This gentleman, who is still living, is dis- tinguished for his literary tastes. He has prepared a volume of family genealogy, to which we are indebted for much of the infor- mation contained in this article. He is a remarkably fine penman, as shown in a let- ter written to the subject of this notice when he was eighty-two years of age. In this letter he gives the fohowing description of the coat of arms granted to William John- son, B. D. "Ar, a chev. az. between three Pheons gu. On a chief of the second an open book representing the Holy Bible ppr. edged and sealed or., thereon inscribed Proverbs XXII, verse 6, between two crosses flory of the last. Crest : a Pheon as in the arms, surmounted by a star of eight points or." William W. Cross was born at Rossie, Jefferson county. New York. In 1849 he came to Wisconsin and located at North Greenfield, near Milwaukee, where he car- ried on a blacksmith shop for over forty years, dying there in December, 1897, al the age of sixtv-four years. He inherited 742 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the patriotic instincts of his ancestors, and when the o-reat Civil war broke out prompt- ly offered his services and spent two years in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Wisconsin \'olunteer Infantry, at the end of whicli time he was discharged owing to disabilities. He had four brothers, each of whom did military service for two )-ears or more dur- ing the same conflict. JMrs. Jane H. Cross is now living in Cambria, at the age of sixty- four years. She was born in Onondaga county, New York. Her father, Reuben Strong, was probably of English descent. His wife, I'armelia (Fuller), was of Dutch lineage. This, family came to NVisconsin in 1836, settling at Greenfield, where they were among the earliest pioneers. Two brothers uf Mrs. Cross served in the Union army during the Ci\'il war, a third being too young for militar}- duly at that time. Mrs. Cross is the mother of two sons and one daughter : the latter, Emma Loa, became the wife of Edwin A. James, of Brandon, Wis- consin, and Clarence was accidentally killed b\- a train of cars while crossing the tracks near his home at Greenfield. This sad event occurred in 1897, when he had reached the age of twenty-seven years. Freiuont Jay Cross, who is the eldest and only survivor of his father's family, at- tended the public school at Greenfield and at an early age began to manifest an aptitude for fine mechanical work. When twenty years of age he went to jNIihvaukee and studied dentistry with Dr. David Ritchey. With the exception of a few years he has jiracticed his ])rofession since that time; he also learned the jeweler's trade, which was more to his taste. After working a few years at McHenry, Illinois, ^ and elsewhere, in 1883 he located in Cambria, bringing the first stock of jewelry to that village, where he continues to be the only workman in that l:ne. He had been here but a short time when he resumed the practice of dentistrv and still carries on the two occupations con- jointly, his skill in both pursuits having at- tracted a liberal patronage. In 1879 Mr. Cross was married to Miss Ella E. James, daughter, of John T. and Eliza (Braithwaite) James, of Greenfield, Wisconsin. ]\Ir. and Mrs. James came to that place from England. One son and three daughters brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cross, named, respectively: Wilfred James, Cordello Eliza, Ethelyn Jane and Elva Enola. Wilfred J. is now his father's assistant in the jewelry store, for which he evinces a decided taste. Mr. Cross is iden- tified with the Masonic fraternity and is a past master of Cambria Lodge, No. 15J. He is also connected with the local organi- zations of the Ancient Order of United ^^'orkmen and of the Modern Woodmen of America. A Republican in sentiment, he at- tends numerous political gatherings, but sometimes supports worthy candidates with whom he disagrees in matters of national policy. He has several times been elected a member of the \'illage board of trustees and lias also ser\-ed as president of that body. He has also been a meml:)er of the county board of supervisors and is the present treas- urer of the village. DAVID THOMPSON BONNELL. Da\'id Thom])son Bonnell, one of the most popular public oflicials of Adams coun- ty, was born in Mendon, Morris county. New Jersey, July i r, 1849. ^^^ nearly half a century he has been a resident of Adams county, and enjo_ys a large acquaint- an.ce and the respect of the entire community. Mr. Bonnell was the youngest son born to Charles Pinkney and Jane (Garrabrant) Bonnell. His father was a brick mason and plasterer by trade, and followed it in New- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 743 nrk. New York, Brooklyn, and other cities of the east, and in 1853 moved to Wiscon- sin, settling on his farm in Adams county,, and plying his trade in the town. He laid the foundation of several of the first build- irigs in Kilbourn, and was forced to abandon that line of work on account of an injury received by falling from a scaffold. He died Xovember 14, 1876, aged seventy-one years. }le led an honorable and useful life and was resjiected where he made his home. The n^other of our subject was born in Morris enmity, Xew Jersey, and her ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of that state. Her