Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 417-451) A selected list of
biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business,
professional and official life. Together with short notes on the
history and character of Wisconsin.

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Page 417 continued

EDWARDS, Benjamin Eugene, a prominent business man of La Crosse, was
born at Sugar Creek, Walworth county, Wisconsin, on the 12th of
November, 1845. The Edwards family is of Welsh descent, though it has
long been in this country, its founder coming in 1664, and settling in
Northampton, Mass. Theodore B. Edwards, the father of the subject of
this sketch, was born in Northampton in 1819, but came to Wisconsin in
1839, settling at Sugar Creek, Walworth county. As showing the
wonderful progress that the country has made within the lifetime of one
man, it may be stated that Mr. Edwards made the journey from his home
at Northampton to Wisconsin by water--descending the Connecticut river
into Long Island Sound, thence up the Hudson to Albany, thence through
the Erie canal to Buffalo, and by lake to Milwaukee--a tedious journey
of several weeks that could now be made by rail

Page 418

[image: BENJAMIN EUGENE EDWARDS.]

in thirty-six hours. Mr. Edwards resided at Sugar Creek until 1852,
when he removed to La Crosse, and was one of pioneers of that now
thriving and busy city. Theodore B. Edwards' wife was Adaline
McCracken, a native of Batavia, N. Y., where she was born in 1816. Both
she and her husband had the advantages of only an ordinary common
school education, but were persons of sterling character and of
influence in the communities where they lived.

B. E. Edwards attended the common school in his native town of Sugar
Creek until 1857, when he was sent to an academy at Long Meadow, Mass.,
and after that to a school in Springfield, in the same state. With his
preparation for a collegiate course he returned to Wisconsin and
entered Beloit College, where he pursued his studies for three years.
At the end of this time he went home to La Crosse, where he began his
business career as clerk in a dry goods store. In 1867, when but
twenty-two years of age, he entered upon business for himself by
engaging in the dry goods trade in La Crosse, in which he continued for
seven years. He then entered the lumber business, in which he was 
engaged for ten years and in which he was quite prosperous. Leaving that 
he became identified with the street railway in La Crosse, and is now 
the president of the company. He is also connected with several other 
companies as director or officer, and is an enterprising, public-
spirited and most worthy citizen--one who, while advancing his own 
individual interests, has made the community his debtor by his services 
in forwarding all public improvements of a social and industrial 
character.

In politics Mr. Edwards has always been a Republican and one of the
staunchest supporters of the principles of the party, but has never
held any official position. He, however, represents the Seventh
congressional district on the Republican state central committee, a
position of honor involving some work, but no emoluments.

Mr. Edwards enlisted in the Fortieth regiment, Wisconsin infantry, but
served only five months, when the war ended. The only engagement in
which the regiment participated was during the Forest raid into
Memphis.

Mr. Edwards is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks, the La
Crosse club and the Congregational church.

In 1868 Mr. Edwards was married to Ella C. Osborne, and they have one
son and three daughters--Eugene O., Grace O., Helen L., and Anna K.
Edwards.

HANLEY, George William, a resident of Marinette, and prominent from his
connection with a number of business corporations of that city, was
born in Whitewater, Wis., April 24th, 1856, both of whom are Irish-
Americans, the father dying in 1869, the mother still living in
Milwaukee. Geo. W. Hanley attended the parochial school of St. John's
cathedral and afterward St. Gall's night school. When ten years old he
began the business of life as cash boy in Klauber Bros'. dry goods
store

Page 419

for a year, then as office boy for the late Senator Matt. H. Carpenter.
After that he was employed in a hotel, a newspaper and stationery
store, the United States engineer's office, the land department of the
Sturgeon Bay & Lake Michigan Ship Canal & Harbor company, and
subsequently was chief clerk in the land department of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company's office. In 1883 he removed from
Milwaukee to Peshtigo, Wis., to take the position of cashier of the
Peshtigo company. After seven years in the service of that organization
he went to Marinette to become secretary of the Menominee River Boom
company, probably the largest corporation of its kind in this country.
He is also secretary of the Marinette Gas, Electric Light and Street
Railway company, the Marinette Hotel company, the Business Men's
association and the Fenton Clothing and Tailoring company. These
several positions involve a multiciplity of duties, but Mr. Hanley has
always been found equal to the thorough discharge of them all, and to
the successful performance of whatever he has undertaken. He has the
business faculty largely developed and is an energetic and untiring
worker in the ranks of every public or patriotic movement.

He has always been an earnest Republican and was chairman of the
Marinette Republican city and county committees from 1891 to 1895. He
was also a member of the Republican state central committee from 1890
to 1894.

He is a member of the Bon Ami club of Milwaukee, and of several clubs
and social societies of Marinette, but has never been connected with
any fraternal organizations. In religion he is a Roman Catholic.

His deprivation of school or college education (through the early death
of his father) has been largely mitigated by the benefits derived from
the various and diversified occupations in his early life, coupled with
a natural taste for reading and study.

Mr. Hanley was married February 4th, 1880, to Agnes Griffin, daughter
of M. Griffin,

[image: GEORGE WILLIAM HANLEY.]

an old resident of Milwaukee, and they have two children, Catherine
Marie, born in Peshtigo in 1885, and Gertrude, born in Marinette in
1892.

DOERFLINGER, Charles Herman, secretary of the board of city service
commissioners, and a gentleman who has a long and honorable record as a
leader in educational matters and civil and political reform, was born
in Baden, Germany, on the 17th of February, 1843. His father was Karl
Doerflinger, an official in Germany, who, becoming imbued with liberal
principles, participated in the revolution of 1848; and, upon its
failure, was compelled, as were many of his compatriots, to seek refuge
in a foreign land. Upon the breaking out of our civil war he enlisted
in the army, and was made first lieutenant of the Second Wisconsin
cavalry.

Mr. Doerflinger's mother, Theresa Gisselbrecht, was of the ancient
family of Guilbert of Brittany, and related to the De la Chapelles. She
secured the release of her husband from a German dungeon, and the
family found their way to Milwaukee in 1848. She was for many

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[image: CHARLES HERMAN DOERFLINGER.]

years a very successful teacher in the German-English academy, as was
her son in years after.

Mr. Doerflinger's early education was received in Milwaukee, at a
private school taught by Mr. Steever, the First and Second ward public
schools, and Engelmann's Academy. In this last named institution, Mr.
Doerflinger says that he was imbued with an enthusiasm for liberty, for
republican principles, a patriotic sentiment toward his adopted country
and had awakened within him that interest in progress and in scientific
advancement which have marked his career as a man. For economic
reasons, he was compelled to leave school when fourteen years old, but
like all boys imbued with a love of learning, his studies were
continued during his leisure hours, and his life has demonstrated anew
the fact that scholarship is not necessarily restricted to college
halls, but may be attained by any one who has the ability, the
disposition and the scholarly instincts to pursue courses of study for
himself.

Leaving school, young Doerflinger became a printer's apprentice and
newsboy. He afterwards served as an architect's apprentice, and about 
1860 to 1862 he was engaged in mining and farming in the west. For ten 
years subsequent to 1870, he was engaged in the book and publishing 
business, carrying on all departments. Among the publications which he 
conducted, or in which he was directly interested, or of which he was 
the author, were the "New Education," into which the great agitator, 
Miss Elizabeth Peabody, merged her "Kindergarten Messenger," when she 
could no longer conduct it; a juvenile periodical called "Onkel Karl;" 
several illustrated juvenile books based on Froebelian ideas; the 
"Erziehungs Blaetter," the official organ of the German-American 
Teacher's association, doing pioneer work for the advancement of 
pedagogical principles and methods which were first generally made known 
in the United States by the immortal work done by Horace Mann. He was 
also one of the publishers of the "American Turn-Zeitung," the official 
organ of the National Union of Gymnastic societies; and the 
"Freidenker." But for the last fifteen years he has had no active 
interest of any kind in the last three papers mentioned. He was the 
originator of the idea of the public institution which now ornaments 
Grand avenue hill, the Public Museum and Library building. From 1883 to 
1886, he was custodian of the Milwaukee Public Museum, having entire 
charge of the equipment, enlargement and administration of the 
institution. This position he resigned in 1886 on account of impaired 
health; and, after long delay, the board of trustees accepted the 
resignation, with expressions of highest appreciation of his labors, and 
profound regret at the necessity which called it forth. He was one of 
the founders of the first kindergarten society of Milwaukee. He was for 
three years member of the board of regents of the state normal schools; 
and, as member of the committee on studies and text-books, he first 
introduced and advocated the kindergarten and secured its incorporation 
into the normal school course. It was also due to his

Page 421

persistent efforts that the chair of pedagogy was established in the
university. He is a member of the Wisconsin Association for the
Advancement of Physical Culture, and for thirty-two years he was the
earnest and persistent advocate of rational physical education, and for
the greater part of that time was an officer of the Milwaukee Gymnastic
association and of the Gymnastic Normal School. From 1889 to 1893 he
traveled in Europe for the recovery of his health, and for study and
observation. Returning home, he went into the business of real estate
and fire insurance. But a serious lameness compelled him to abandon
business for a time; but, in 1895, he acquired an interest in a
manufactory of artificial limbs, trusses, etc., of which he became and
ow is president. In 1896, at the earnest solicitation of friends, he
received and accepted the position of chief examiner and secretary of
the board of city service commissioners; and to this position he is now
devoting his whole energy.

Mr. Doerflinger's war record is honorable alike as to his courage and
patriotism. He was orderly sergeant in the Iowa home guard. In August,
1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth regiment of Wisconsin volunteer,
at Milwaukee; was promoted to orderly sergeant of Company B by captain
(now General) F. C. Winkler. He was promoted to second lieutenant of
Company B, and later to first lieutenant of Company K. In the battle of
Chancellorsville, May 2nd, 1863, while in command of the company, his
ankle joint was shattered by a rifle ball, rendering amputation
necessary, but, by reason of accident, the operation was a failure, and
he was confined to the hospital for seven months. As a soldier he
claims to have been but one of hundreds of thousands in the Union army
that did their whole duty. Yet Col. Wm. H. Jacobs, in a published
report of the battle of Chancellorsville, says that "the palm of the
day belongs to the young hero, Doerflinger."

Mr. Doerflinger was for some twelve years secretary of the Wisconsin
Natural History society of Milwaukee. In this position he was active in 
promoting all scientific endeavors; and, although not a savant in 
archeology, he has long been interested in the subject, and made an 
interesting collection of prehistoric relies in Switzerland and France, 
gathered principally while on journeys through the valleys of the Somme, 
Garonne, Dordogne and Vezere rivers. He has been also a member of the 
Milwaukee Musical society, Liberal league, Fortnightly club, German 
Educational society, now National German-American Seminary association, 
E. B. Wolcott post, G. A. R., Society of the Twenty-sixth regiment, 
Milwaukee Turnverein, Deutscher club, and many others.

A pupil and friend of Peter Engelmann, one of the founders of the
Republican party in Milwaukee, Mr. Doerflinger became a determined
abolitionist, and an enthusiastic Republican. After Lincoln's death he
followed Engelmann in the independent movement of the radical
Republican, anti-communistic organization called Radical Union,
originating with Carl Heinzen of Boston, the friend of Wendell Phillips
and other leading abolitionists, who were disatisfied with the
reconstruction policy, and advocated changes in the constitution and
laws similar to those adopted by Switzerland, lying in the direction of
true democracy, and radical civil service reform. Notwithstanding this
deflection in the direction of ideal politics, his proclivities have
always been Republican; and, while opposing everything foreign to
legitimate party purposes, his support has, for the most part, been
given to its men and measures. While traveling in Europe he studied
with keen interest the political and social conditions obtaining in the
old world, particularly the results of rational non-communistic co-
operation of labor and capital, at a number of great establishments,
and proclaims it as his "social religion" that this system is the non-
revolutionary solution of the labor question, and the promise of
universal peace and prosperity without any upheaval. When he found that

Page 422

his radical associates were steadily approaching anarchistic theories
and giving moral support to violent and dangerous elements, he warned
them that he and his friends should be known in future as "conservative
radicals," whose motto should be "construction" not "destruction." The
warning was unheeded, and he has rejoined the Republican ranks, but
still maintains his independence of thought, and his allegiance, to his
ideals in social, civil and industrial affairs.

Mr. Doerflinger traveled extensively in Mexico, studying the industrial
and educational condition of the country, and published the results of
his observations in an entertaining essay. He has contributed hundreds
of articles to the press of Milwaukee, Chicago and New York, upon his
travels, and upon social and political questions, and has proved
himself a most intelligent and public-spirited citizen. He has done
much in many ways to promote the public welfare for which he has
received no compensation, but which the people cannot wholly forget.

ARMSTRONG, Leroy Grant, M. D., long a resident of Boscobel, Grant
county, Wisconsin, was born in Cortland, Cortland county, N. Y., March
7th, 1834. His father was Robert Armstrong, a mason and builder, in
moderate financial circumstances, a native of Geneva, Cayuga county, N.
Y., where he was born July 9th, 1804. His ancestors were of Irish
descent, coming to this county in 1727, settling in Goshen, Orange
county, N. Y., and removing thence to Cayuga county when it was still a
wilderness. There they cleared them a farm in the forest and made them
a home. L. G. Armstrong's mother was Huldah Grant, who was born in
Norfolk, Litchfield county, Ct. Her ancestors were of Scotch and French
nationality. Robert Armstrong and Huldah Grant, upon their marriage
began housekeeping at Groton, Tompkins county, N. Y., where they
continued to reside until May, 1845, when they came to Wisconsin, 
settling on a farm near Whitewater. They were both faithful members of 
the Presbyterian church. The former died in March, 1875, and the latter 
November 17th, 1894.

L. G. Armstrong had but meager opportunities for an education until he
was seventeen years of age--only a few weeks each year at his home
district school. He then entered the Fort Atkinson Academy and remained
there until he secured a certificate that he was qualified to teach a
common school. In this way he earned sufficient money to enable him to
take a course in the state university in 1854 and 1855. The institution
was wholly conducted in what is now the north dormitory, there being
then but the one building. Chancellor Lathrop was the head instructor,
and S. P. Lathrop, professor of chemistry and the natural sciences,
being Mr. Armstrong's preceptor. In 1856 Mr. Armstrong entered Rush
Medical College, Chicago, from which he graduated February 16th, 1859,
receiving first honors in surgery and second honors before the whole
faculty. In 1873-4 he took a post-graduate course in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York city.

After graduating from the medical college, he began the practice of
medicine at Palmyra, but removed to Fennimore, Grant county, in 1860,
where he practiced his profession until commissioned second assistant
surgeon of the Eighth Wisconsin infantry, and went directly to Corinth,
Miss., participating in the battle at that place October 3rd and 4th,
1862. After a short time his health failed and he was forced to resign
his commission. Returning home he remained there until August, 1864,
when he was commissioned as first assistant surgeon of the Sixth
regiment, Wisconsin infantry, which he joined at Petersburg, Va., with
which he remained until February, 1865, when he was commissioned major-
surgeon of the Forty-eight regiment, Wisconsin infantry, with which he
went to Fort Scott, Kansas,

Page 423

where he performed the double duty of regimental surgeon and surgeon in
charge of the post hospital. The latter he broke up in August, 1865,
removing the sick to Fort Leavenworth. He then marched with his
regiment to Fort Larned, Kansas, where he was in charge of the post
hospital until February, 1866, when he returned home and resumed
private practice at Boscobel, where he has practiced to the present
time. He has also been United States examining surgeon for pensions at
Boscobel for sixteen years.

Dr. Armstrong was one of the organizers and first commander of John
McDermott Post, No. 101, G. A. R., of Boscobel. He is an Odd Fellow,
has passed all the chairs of the order of the local lodge. He is also a
charter member of Grant Lodge, 169, F. & A. M., having held every
office to worthy master, to which he was twice elected. He has held
every office in the Boscobel Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., and has been a
Knight Templar since the organization of De Molai Commandery, of which
he was a charter member. He is a member of the State Medical society,
of which he was president once, vice-president twice, censor for a
number of years, and chairman of several committees from year to year.
He is also member of the American Medical association.

Dr. Armstrong was born and raised a Democrat; but, upon the breaking
out of the civil war, he joined the Republican party and has acted with
it ever since. He has been twice mayor of Boscobel, but never held any
other political position. He has been a member of the Boscobel school
board for twenty years, and is still a member. He was active in the
organization of the Boscobel high school, and no work outside of his
profession has occupied so of much of his time as school matters, and
there is none of which he is more thoroughly proud. In church matters
he is a Congregationalist.

Dr. Armstrong was married January 22nd, 1891, to Miss Sarah D. Bond of
Milton, Wisconsin. Two sons were born of this marriage

[image: LEROY GRANT ARMSTRONG.]

--Charles A., a physician of Boscobel, and Geo. G., who graduated from
the state university, and subsequently from the law school of that
institution, and is now a lawyer of Salt Lake City, Utah.

On January 1st, 1895, Dr. Armstrong was married, a second time, to Miss
Baumeister of Boscobel, and they have one child, a son. Although the
doctor is financially independent, he still continues in the daily
practice of his profession.

IDE, George Henry, is a native of New England. He was born in St.
Johnsbury, Vermont, January 21, 1839, and his education was commenced
in the academy of that town, where the Ides have long been a well-known
family. In 1861 Mr. Ide entered Dartmouth College, but like many other
ardent young men he was carried away by the wave of patriotic
enthusiasm that swept over the north when the south rose in
insurrection, and at the close of his freshman year in college the
young man enlisted in the Fifteenth Vermont regiment, for the period of
one year.

Page 424

[image: REV. GEORGE HENRY IDE.]

He served the term of his enlistment, was made orderly sergeant of his
company and participated in the battle of Gettysburg, besides a number
of minor engagements and skirmishes. In 1863 he returned to Dartmouth
to complete his course of studies in that institution, where he
graduated in the class of 1865. After leaving college Mr. Ide returned
to Vermont and taught in the St. Johnsbury high school for a year,
after which, having decided to enter the Congregational ministry, he
became a student at Andover Theological Seminary, from which he was
graduated in the class of 1869 with the degree of doctor of divinity.
Immediately upon receiving his degree from Andover, Dr. Ide received a
call from the Congregational church at Hopkinton, Mass., which he
accepted. Seven years were spent by Dr.Ide as pastor of the Hopkinton
church, at the end of which period he went to the Central
Congregational church at Lawrence, Mass. It was during his successful
pastorate in Lawrence that Milwaukee Congregationalists heard of Dr.
Ide, and in 1880 the Grand avenue church, which had been left without a
pastor by the resignation of Rev. George T. Ladd, called him to its 
pulpit. Dr. Ide accepted the call and became a resident of Milwaukee in 
January, 1881. Six years later, largely through his efforts, the 
congregation removed from the old building on Sixth street to a new 
house of worship at Grand avenue and Twenty-second street, and in its 
new home the church speedily gained in numbers and influence. Dr. Ide is 
valued not only for his ability as a clergyman but for his genial as a 
man. As a youth he was exceedingly fond of athletic sports and his 
tastes in that particular remained with him in his mature years. In all 
of the benevolent and missionary undertakings of the church he has been 
active and he has besides manifested a keen interest in education, 
having served as a trustee of Beloit College and given the benefit of 
his counsel and assistance to other institutions, such as Ripon College 
and Rochester Academy. In recent years Dr. Ide has twice visited Europe.

Dr. Ide was married in 1872 to Miss Mary J. Sanborn of Newport, N. H.,
who died in 1875, leaving two children, Carrie S. and Charles E. April
27, 1876, Dr. Ide married Miss Kate E. Bowles of Vermont.

WEIL, Benjamin M., is a native of Maryland. He was born in the city of
Baltimore, on the 4th day of March, 1850, and grew to manhood in his
native town. In 1870 he became a resident of Milwaukee and engaged in
the real estate and insurance business, in which he has achieved
distinguished success. In 1872 he became a member of the firm of Weil &
Farnum, but two years later Mr. Farnum retired on account of ill-health
and Mr. Weil has ever since managed the business alone, except during a
short period in which R. Van Dyke was associated with him. Henry C.
Payne, who later achieved fame in state and national politics, had
built up an insurance business, which Mr. Weil bought and consolidated
with his own. He was for a long time located in the Newhall house, but
when

Page 425

that ill-fated building was destroyed by fire, he moved across the
street into the corner office on the first floor of the Chamber of
Commerce building, which has come to be as well known as any place of
business in Milwaukee. Mr. Weil was married in March, 1874, at Albany,
N. Y., to Miss Sarah Stern of that city. They have three children, two
sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Charles Weil, a graduate of
Amherst College, has this year (1897) become associated with his father
in business.

Mr. Weil has always manifested the interest which a good citizen should
take in the larger interests of the city. In the various business and
industrial associations of Milwaukee he has been particularly active
and in the establishment of many enterprises he has lent a helping
hand. When the Milwaukee, Industrial exposition was organized he
successfully managed the work of securing the stock subscriptions. When
the Advancement association was in the period of its activity Mr. Weil
did the city excellent service in the matter of inducing manufacturing
concerns to locate in Milwaukee. The Fuller & Warren stove plant,
employing hundreds of men is one factory that he was instrumental in
securing for the city, and the great straw works on the south side
another. Other large interests of which he has had charge are the real
estate transactions of the Wisconsin Central and St. Paul railways. He
has been entrusted with the funds of many individuals and estates, and
has throughout his long career enjoyed a reputation for upright and
fair dealing in these responsible relations, and in every other branch
of his business. Among his clients are numbered wealthy men of other
cities, seeking investments in Milwaukee, and one way in which he has
served her interests has been by calling the attention of capital to
the opportunities offered by the Cream City.

Mr. Weil has served as president of the Phoenix club, of which he was
one of the founders, and has always been a leading member. He is a
director of the Milwaukee Gas Light company, and during the trying
period

[image: BENJAMIN M. WELL.]

of the panic, which began in 1893, his colleagues showed their
confidence in him by placing him in charge of the affairs of the
Commercial bank, which got into difficulty in that financial storm. In
many ways Mr. Weil is a typical American business man, self-made,
alert, reliable and in every relation of life bearing his part well.

JONES, William A., a resident of Mineral Point, recently appointed
United States commissioner of Indian affairs, was born in
Pembrokeshire, Wales, September, 27th, 1844, the son of John and Phoebe
Davis Jones, natives of Wales, who came to Wisconsin in 1851, settling
in Iowa county, where they have lived ever since, and where, as a
mechanic, Mr. Jones succeeded in accumulating considerable property.

W. A. Jones came to Wisconsin with his parents, when seven years of
age, received his early education in the common school and then took a
course in the Platteville normal school, from which he graduated in
1872. After his graduation he taught school for several

Page 426

[image: WILLIAM A. JONES.]

terms, then studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never entered
practice. In 1881 he engaged in private banking in Mineral Point, and,
in 1884, with others, organized the First National bank of Mineral
Point, of which he was elected cashier. A few years thereafter he was
elected vice-president of that institution, a position which he still
holds. He was one of the original stockholders of the Mineral Point
Zinc company, and on its re-organization, in 1884, he, with his
brothers, D. B. and T. D. Jones of Chicago, became sole owners of the
plant. From that time he has been secretary and treasurer of the
company. Since the Jones Brothers came into full possession of these
works they have been enlarged and improved until they have become the
largest zinc oxide plant in the United States.

Mr. Jones was elected superintendent of schools of Iowa county and held
the office for four years. He was also mayor of the city of Mineral
Point, and is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen. In 1894 he
received the Republican nomination for member of the assembly and was
elected by a large majority over his three opponents. In 1896 he was 
renominated by the Republicans and re-elected by a very largely 
increased majority. He was a prominent candidate for the Republican 
nomination for speaker of the assembly, but was not successful, although 
he received a handsome vote. As a legislator he was one of the leading 
members--always conservative, yet ready with intelligent and effective 
support for every measure demanded by the public welfare. In politics, 
as already indicated, he is a Republican, and has been effective in the 
local campaigns of the party, but always in a way to command the respect 
of those opposed to him in principle. So capable as a man, so honorable 
as a citizen, so worthy a member of the dominant party is he that he was 
very generally conceded to be a fit person for United States 
commissioner of Indian affairs, and he promptly received the appointment 
thereto, although there were a number of other worthy men who were 
candidates for the position.

He is a member of the Masonic order, and treasurer of the Mineral Point
Commandery. In religion he is a Presbyterian.

Mr. Jones was married, in 1881, to Miss Sarah C. Ansley, and they have
four children: Agnes, Willie A., florence and Marion.

BARBER, Frnak Junia, a well-known lawyer, business man and Republican
of Oshkosh, was born in Wardsboro, Vt., December 7th, 1850, the son of
Junia D. and Sarah Smith Barker. He is a descendant through his
grandmother, Rhoda Cushing Barber, of Mathew Cushing of Norfolk,
England, who came to America in 1638 and settled in Hingham, Mass.
Prominent among Mathew Cushing's descendants were Hon. William Cushing,
judge of supreme court of the United States, and Caleb Cushing of the
supreme court of Massachusetts, and upwards of thirty others who
graduated from Harvard College prior to 1825. He was educated in the
public schools, Leeland & Grany Seminary, Townshend,

Page 427

Vt., and Green Mt. Perkins Academy in Woodstock, Vt., and afterwards
entered the Albany law school, from which he graduated in the spring of
1875. By teaching in the public schools of Vermont and New Hampshire
for ten terms during falls and winters, and by laboring on the farm in
summers, he earned money enough to pay the expenses of his education.
After his graduation from the law school and his admission to the bar
in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont, he began the practice of his
profession in Hinsdale, Cheshire county, N. H., where he remained until
October, 1882. In June, 1883, he came to Oshkosh for the purpose of
engaging in the practice of his profession with his brother, A. J.
barber, who has preceded him to that city. The firm of Barber Brothers,
then established, of which F. J. is the senior partner, is the oldest
in Oshkosh, and has built up a large general law business which has
proved very profitable. Mr. Barber is also interested in several
enterprises outside of his profession. He is a director of the German
National bank of Oshkosh and secretary of the Peoples Building and Loan
association of the same city.

Mr. Barber is a thorough Republican, and, for twenty years, has been an
active worker and sagacious adviser in the conducting of the party
campaigns. His services have been rendered without money or the hope or
expectation of reward in the shape of official honors or emoluments,
having never sought or held a public office. He is a firm believer in
the financial and protective policy of the party and has been an
effective advocate of its adoption. He is art present chairman of the
city republican committee, and has attended as delegate numerous
congressional and state conventions. It is to the unselfish efforts of
such men that the party owes much of its success and the confidence
which the people have reposed in it.

September 9th, 1879, Mr. Barber was married to Ella K. Richmond, and
they have seven children--four girls and three boys,

[image: FRANK JUNIA BARBER.]

namely: Nina Rose, Elbert Edgar, Richmond Junia, Catherine Sarah, Ella
May, Frances Etta and Thomas Frank.

RUDZINSKI, Theodore, a well-known resident of Milwaukee, is the son of
August Rudzinski, a cutter and tailor by trade, who was the first
Polish settler and merchant in Milwaukee. Through his efforts was
organized the first Polish Catholic church in Milwaukee, embracing
forty families; and through him was secured the church building on the
corner of Grove and Mineral streets. He was also the leading spirit in
the erection of the large and substantial church edifice for St.
Stanislaus society, corner of grove and Mitchell streets. A third
Polish church, St. Hedwig's, at the corner of Franklin and Brady
street, was secured through his untiring efforts in the collection of
subscriptions and in the organizing of church fairs. He was the
organizer and first captain of the existing military company known as
Kosciuszko National Guard of Milwaukee. He was especially active in
securing the location of immi-

Page 428

[image: THEODORE RUDZINSKI.]

grants for his nationality in Milwaukee. But his efforts to secure the
settlement of Poles in this city did not cease with their coming--he
assisted the new-comers to start in their new homes, and in this way
came to be looked upon as their counsellor and leader, and exerted over
them an almost boundless influence.

Theodore Rudzinki's mother was Francesca Mezikowski, who was the
daughter of a miller and woolen manufacturer in German Poland.

Theodore Rudzinski was born in Newmark, Prussian Poland, January 5th,
1855, and came to Milwaukee with his parents in 1859. His first closing
was received in St. Mary's parish school, Milwaukee, which is attended
from the age of five years to twelve. For the next three year's he was
a student in St. Gall's Academy, Milwaukee, from which he graduated at
the age of fifteen years. He then took a course of two years in the
Spencerian Business College, including the study of law, and winning a
first prize in elocution and reading. During the next three years he
served as a clerk in a dry good store. Following this he resumed the 
study of law, and continued it for two years, but with a view of fitting 
himself for a business career rather than for the practice of the 
profession. Finally, at the age of twenty-two years, he began business 
for himself, by investing his savings in real estate, and combining 
therewith an immigration agency. Through care in investments and close 
attention to the details of business, he was successful from the start. 
Most of the Polish immigrants to Milwaukee came through his agency, and 
the business from this source rapidly increased; this, with judicious 
investments in real estate; gave him, ere long, the control of a 
handsome property.

Mr. Rudzinski is too young for a record during the civil war, but he
has always shown a patriotic impulse, has been a member of the
Kosciuszko National Guard, and in other ways demonstrated that he is in
full sympathy with the institutions of his adopted country.

In politics he is a Democrat, and was elected alderman from the Twelfth
ward in 1882, for three years, and re-elected in 1885. He was elected
to the legislative assembly in 1886, and a justice of the peace in
1887, in which capacity he served until 1890. As may be judged from the
fact that he is the son of so earnest a churchman as August Rudzinski,
he is a thorough Roman Catholic in religion. He was married on the 27th
of September, 1892, to Eliza Hansen of Chilton, Wis., and they have two
children--Agnes Helen and Lucy Mabel.

WEEK, John.--Among the progressive men of Wisconsin, there probably has
not been a more conspicuous example than that afforded by the man whose
name heads this sketch. Born in humble circumstances in Hardenger
parish, Norway, December 6th, 1818, one of the family of five sons and
daughter, he had his own way to make in the world; and, as the first
step toward this end, he, in company with an elder brother, set sail
for America in 1839, and arrived at Fall River, Massachusetts, on the
10th of July, of that


Page 429

year. Tarrying there a short time, he came on to Chicago, covering the
entire distance by stage, canal and sailing vessel, as that was prior
to the day of railroads, except in a few localities in the east. For a
year or more he was engaged in sailing the lakes, during the season of
navigation. After that he went to the lead mining region of southern
Wisconsin, and engaged in the boot and shoe business at Wiota, and
later at Dodgeville. This business he carried on for a number of years.
Soon after settling at Wiota, he made the acquaintance of Col. Wm. S.
Hamilton, a son of the illustrious statesman, Alexander Hamilton. Col.
Hamilton conceived a great liking for the young Norwegian, taught him
to speak and read the English language, and endeavored to instill into
him his own political principles, which where those of the Whig party.
In this latter effort, however, he was not successful, as Mr. Week
became a Democrat, and so remained for many years. Mr. Week, however,
was not ungrateful to his distinguished friend for his kindness and his
good intentions, for when Col. Hamilton was elected to the legislative
assembly of the territory, he presented him, so it is reported, with an
overcoat in honor of the occasion.

In the meantime, Mr. Week's brother, Andrew, had engaged in the lumber
business in Marathon county, and erected a saw-mill on the big Eau
Plaine river, the shores of which were then skirted with a dense pine
forest. This mill John Week purchased and began, in a small way, a
business that grew in time to immense proportions. To reach his new
home, Mr. Week embarked in an Indian canoe from Du Bay's trading post
on the Wisconsin river, and made the long and toilsome journey up that
stream to his destination. There were no roads through the forests at
that time and business was carried on almost wholly by means of the
streams. Some years afterward this hardy pioneer built an excellent
turnpike road, at his own expense, for a distance of eight miles to
what is now Dancy, on the Wisconsin river. Mr. Week operated his mill

[image: JOHN WEEK.]

in Marathon county for thirty-two years, sending his lumber down the
Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers in rafts, and thus finding a good
market for it. In 1881 the mill was destroyed by fire, and he removed
his home and business to Stevens Point, where he became identified with
the industries of that thriving and busy young city. In 1884 his
business was incorporated under the name of the John Week Lumber
company, and its management given into the hands of his sons, Nelson,
Andrew and Edmund, who still carry on the business. The last five years
of his life he was in poor health and was compelled to give up all
active work. During his residence in Marathon county he was one of the
county commissioners, and afterward a member of the county board of
supervisors; was treasurer of his school district from the time it was
organized, and always active in securing good schools and whatever
would promote the intelligence, prosperity and happiness of the
community. He was often solicited to accept a nomination for the
legislature, in the belief he would make a wise, efficient and
practical legislature, but he steadily declined

Page 430

that honor. He was one of the organizers of the Wisconsin River
Improved company, and one of its directors for many years.

He was married on the 29th of February, 1848, to Miss Gunild Louras,
who bore him ten children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, Eva
C., in young womanhood, in 1889.

Mr. Week died June 4th, 1891, and is survived by his wife and seven
children. He was a man of great energy and strength of character,
undeterred by obstacles and fruitful of resource in all circumstance.
Yet he was not wanting in those milder and more genial characteristics
which make friends and bind them to one another in strongest bonds.

JOHNSTON, John, was born on the farm of Overton, Auchnagatt, twenty-
four miles north of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, and not many miles
from the place of which Arthur Johnston, LL. D., wrote three hundred
years ago.

"Here was I born; o'er all the land
Around the Johnstons bear command
Of high and ancient line."

His "forebears" had been on that farm for a long time, as he has in his
possession a lease dated 1749, signed by his great-great-grandfather,
John Johnston and Hugh Forbes.

His mother was Margaret Mitchell, sister of the late Alexander Mitchell
of Milwaukee. He was educated until twelve years old at the district
school of Savoch, after which he went to the grammar school of
Aberdeen, and, at the age of fifteen, he entered the University of
Aberdeen, having gained a scholarship at a public competition in Latin
and Greek, open to all comers. At the age of nineteen he took the
degree of master of arts, and, in 1856, he received an invitation from
his uncle, Alexander Mitchell, to come to America; and, accepting it,
he arrived in Milwaukee on the 10th of March, 1856, entering Mr.
Mitchell's employ at once, as general accountant of the Wisconsin
Marine and Fire Insurance company bank. Here he thoroughly learned
every department of the banking business; and, after ten years, when yet 
a young man of thirty, he was made assistant cashier of the bank, 
holding that position, to the very general satisfaction of its many 
customers, until 1887, when he became cashier. The duties of this office 
he discharged with signal ability and fidelity until 1893, when he 
retired from the bank, having transferred his interest therein to the 
Hon. John L. Mitchell.

During the thirty-six years in which he had been connected with the
bank, he had not only become master of all financial subjects in any
way connected with banking, but he had made a study of commercial and
industrial questions as well, and had come to be regarded as an
authority upon them; and, his integrity being recognized by all, his
counsel was often sought by business men and those in public position
as of especial value, because based upon long experience, study and
close and intelligent observation. During his long service in the bank,
he had, by carefully husbanding his resources and by legitimate
investments gained a handsome fortune. Always public-spirited, and a
generous giver to worthy objects, he came to be regarded as one of the
most valuable of Milwaukee's citizens, and one whose services were
often sought for public position.

Upon his retirement from the bank at the beginning of the year 1893, he
devoted his time and attention to his private interests, with fair
prospects of years of comfort and release from the harassing cares of a
large business. But the panic of that year involved the historic bank
with which he had for so many years been associated; and, though he had
long before severed all business connection with it, he was, by reason
of a law of the state holding stockholders in any corporation liable
for debts contracted within six months after the filing of the
memorandum of the transfer of stock, held liable for all its debts, and
his entire fortune was involved in the catastrophe. Nothing daunted,
however, he bent himself, with his well-known energy and courage, to
the work of the reorganization of the bank, the

Page 431

revival of its business and the reconstruction of his own shattered
fortune. Able and influential men came to his assistance, a new
organization was effected, he pledging five hundred thousand dollars of
his private fortune toward meeting every legitimate claim against the
bank and the placing of it again in the confidence of the people that
had so long known it as one of the staunchest institutions in the
country. Mr. Johnston was unanimously chosen cashier of the reorganized
bank, and it reopened its doors in 1894, with something of its old
vigor and with fair prospects for its taking again its old position at
the head of the financial institutions of the city. Nothing in Mr.
Johnston's long career has brought into stronger light his Scotch pluck
and integrity that his course in the effort to revive and reinvigorate
this great, but unfortunate institution; and, in public estimation, he
stands head and shoulders above even what he was before the calamity.

The public positions of honor and trust which Mr. Johnston has held are
numerous, varied in their duties, and of great importance. He was
member of the board of alderman for two years from 1867, and from 1874
to 1876, a trustee of the public library from 1878 to 1881, a
commissioner of the public debt from 1887 to 1893, for twenty years a
trustee and treasurer of Milwaukee College, and now president of the
board of trustees, has served as director and vice-president of the
Chamber of Commerce and two terms as president, has been a regent of
the University of Wisconsin and president of the board, president of
the State Historical society, member of the city board of school
commissioners, trustee of Carroll College, Waukesha, and has been more
or less actively identified with numerous business enterprises. He has
been an officer or active member of several social and recreation
clubs, has a Scotchman's love for the national game of curling, and has
won the championship in this game for the Milwaukee club.

When the Greenback agitation was in force he delivered a speech before
the working men

[image: JOHN JOHNSTON.]

of Bay View, of which one hundred thousand copies were circulated by
the Honest Money league of Wisconsin.

He was one of those who discovered and developed the great deposits of
cement rock in the suburbs of Milwaukee, and has been a director and
treasurer of the Milwaukee Cement company since its organization in
1875.

Among his most benevolent deeds was the giving to Milwaukee of the lot
for the Emergency hospital, and $5,000 toward the endowment of
Milwaukee College.

In politics he was formerly a Republican, but found himself at variance
with the party on the policy of reconstruction of the southern states
at the close of the war of the rebellion. Since leaving the Republican
party, he has acted with the Democracy, and taken part in many of its
conventions and campaigns. In the presidential campaign of 1896 he
refused to follow the silver Democracy, but at once came boldly out for
the gold standard.

He has been a somewhat prolific writer, and has made many public
addresses which have been received with that favor which is usually

Page 432

accorded only to those who are especially devoted to that work. He
wrote the article on Milwaukee for the Encyclopedia Britannica, that on
Scotland for Salor's Encyclopedia, and that on curling in Johnson's
Encyclopedia.

In religious matters he has long been prominent in the Presbyterian
church--was one of the founders of Calvary Presbyterian church of
Milwaukee, of which he has been a trustee since its formation in 1869,
and was for years one of its elders.

He was married, in 1861, to Miss Margaret Hunter of Scotland, who died
in 1878. Three years later he married Miss Ethlinda Marie Thorsen,
daughter of John Thorsen of Milwaukee. They have two children, a
daughter and a son. Of the children of the first wife but one is
living.

VON SUESSMILCH-HOERNIG, Friederich Ludwig, M. D., an accomplished
physician of Delavan, is the son of Karl Friederich von Suessmilch-
Hoernig, for many years an officer in the Saxon regular army. He was
born in Krausnitz in 1788, was educated for the military profession and
rose by successive promotions to the rank of major-general. He was
taken prisoner by the Russians in 1812 while serving under Napoleon I,
and spent nearly a year and a half as prisoner in Siberia, after which
he was exchanged. In 1816 he was appointed commander of Fortress Lille
in France, in 1832 military commander of Wurzen, Saxony, and, in 1836,
military commander of Bautzen. In 1845 he was promoted to major-general
and brigadier and military commander of the city of Dresden, Saxony. He
retired from the service in 1851, and died at the age of seventy-seven.
The general's wife, Dr. Suessmilch's mother, was Charlotte Amelia Mai,
who was born at Leipsic in 1787, member of an old patrician family in
that city. She was left an orphan at an early age and brought up by her
uncle, C. Mathei, who was a privy councilor and doctor of laws. The
family of von Suessmilch-Hoernig has been a military one since the 
beginning of the seventeenth century, all having been officers and many 
having attained positions of high rank in the army. The doctor is the 
only one brought up for a civil life, and the traditions of the family 
were departed from in his case on account of an injury to one of his 
fingers when a babe. The doctor's grandfather and three of his sons fell 
in Napoleon's campaign in Russia, in 1812; and there are now but three 
of the family left in Germany, a brother of the doctor, Karl Ernst von 
Suessmilch-Hoernig, corps auditeur, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; 
Bernard von Suessmilch-Hoernig, a cousin, who is a colonel and pensioned 
with the honorary title of major-general, and a son of the last named, 
Bernard, a first lieutenant.

Dr. von Suessmilch was born in Wurzen, October 26th, 1821. His father
being transferred from post to post, the doctor had private tutors for
some years, but in May, 1835, entered St. Augustine College, Saxony;
three years later, St. Nicholas College, Leipsic, and, in 1840, the
college at Bautzen, from which he graduated in January, 1842. In May
following he matriculated as student of medicine at the University of
Leipsic, and, in October, 1845, he matriculated at the Royal Medical
and Surgical Academy at Dresden, graduating therefrom in 1848. He then
took a post-graduate course, of four months, in the University of
Wurtzberg. Dr. von Suessmilch came to America September 29, 1848,
reaching Milwaukee the following month. Remaining in the city a short
time, he went to Waterford, Wis., where, for six months, he was
associated with Dr. Flanhard. At the end of that time he returned to
Milwaukee, and, during the greater part of the years 1849 and 1850, was
assistant to F. A. Luening, M. D. In the fall of 1850 Dr. Suessmilch
moved to Burlington, Wis., and remained there nine months. In October
of that year the doctor declared his intentions of becoming a citizen
of the United States, and five years thereafter became a fully
naturalized citizen. In July,

Page 433

1851, he removed to Darien, and in June, 1852, to Delavan, where he has
resided ever since, and where he is still in the active practice of his
profession. He was in general practice until 1861, since which time he
has made gynecology a specialty. He has interests outside of his
profession--is a partner in the bank of E. Latimer & Co., and has a
large and beautiful farm, in which he takes great interest.

Dr. von Suessmilch has always been an active, public-spirited citizen.
He was trustee of the village of Delavan for nine years, its president
seven years and health officer ten years. He held the office of
treasurer of Delavan school district No. 1, including the high school,
for thirty-two consecutive years. During that time he never received or
paid out one cent in money, but did all the business by the check
system in the name of school district No. 1; and he has carried out the
same system as treasurer of the Masonic Grand Lodge and the Grand
Commandery. He was first elected treasurer of the Grand Lodge in 1878,
and has held the place alternately, as required by the constitution,
since that time. In the Grand Commandery he has served as grand
treasurer continuously since 1877.

The doctor was married April 9th, 1852, to Caroline Older, who died
April 5th, 1857, leaving two children, namely: Charles Friederich, born
November 5th, 1853. He was sent to Europe when six years of age to be
educated at the Royal Military Academy at Dresden. He was made a
lieutenant on the battle-field before Fort Nogent, November 5th, 1870.
At twenty-two years of age he was made first lieutenant and adjutant.
He returned to America in 1878 on account of ill-health. The other
child is Amelia Mai, born October 8th, 1855. She was also educated in
Germany, returned to the United States in 1876 and married M. A. Brown.
Dr. von Suessmilch, on the 8th of October, 1857, married for his second
wife, Frances Maria Stowell, who bore him six children and died October
11th, 1880. The children of the second wife

[image: FRIEDERICH LUD. VON SUESSMILCH-HOERNIG.]

are: Charles Guy, born December 26th, 1858, and graduated from Racine
College in 1880: Charlotte Emelia, born February 19th, 1861, and
graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the degree of B. S. in
1884; Katharine Hedwig (Mrs. W. E. Richardson), born September 23rd,
1862; Ernst Ludwig, born August 1st, 1868, and graduated from the
University of Michigan with the degree of LL. B. in 1888; George Otto,
born December 3rd, 1870, and educated at Valparaiso College; Henrietta
Theresa (Mrs. H. I. Latham), born September 18th, 1874, and graduated
from the Girls' Classical School, Indianapolis, Ind.

Dr. von Suessmilch has long been one of the most prominent and
accomplished Masons in the state, and few have done more for the
fraternity or been more highly honored by it than he. The list of the
lodges with which he has been connected and the offices which he has
held is a long and honorable one, and it may with truth be said that
there is nothing about the order which he does not know, and no degree
or position to which he has not attained. He has been a communicant of
the Lutheran church since 1835.

Page 434

[image: ELIHU COLMAN.]

COLMAN, Elihu, one of the leading lawyers of Fond du Lac, and prominent
in political circles, is the son of Rev. H. R. Colman, who was born in
New York state in 1800, became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
church, preached in eastern New York until 1840, when he came to
Wisconsin as a missionary to the Oneida Indians. Remaining in that work
for some years, he finally took up his residence in Fond du Lac in
1847, and that was his home for the greater part of his time until his
death in 1895. His wife was Lydia Elvira Spier, who was born at Lake
Pleasant, N. Y., in 1802, and died in 1890. The first of this family
came from England and settled at Weathersfield, Conn., in 1636. Perhaps
one of the best things that can be said of his descendants is that, as
far as known, none of them ever disgraced a good name.

Elihu Colman was born in Oneida, Brown county, Wisconsin, May 11th,
1841. He came with his parents to Fond du Lac in 1847, and that city
has been his home since that time. His preliminary education was
received in the graded schools of Fond du La, and in the preparatory 
department of Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis. Prepared for college, 
he entered the collegiate department at Appleton in the classical 
course, and was graduated therefrom in June, 1865, with second honors.

Upon leaving college he began the study of law in the office of Blair &
Colman in Fond du Lac, and was admitted to the bar in 1866, and since
that time has been in the active practice of the law in Fond du Lac to
the present date. From 1867 to 1879 he was a member of the firm of
Hauser & Colman; of Colman, Carter & Kent in 1879 and 1880; from 1880
to 1882 the firm was Colman & Kent; from 1886 to 1895 the firm was
Colman & Sutherland, and in 1896 his firm was Colman & Parkinson. Since
October, 1890, he has been in business alone.

In February, 1896, he was appointed United States district attorney for
the Eastern district of Wisconsin, and, while occupying that position
he handled a great many important cases. He was the first United States
attorney to bring prosecutions, under the direction of the Postoffice
department, to drive the Louisiana lottery fraud out of the country. He
was also engaged in the Fox river overflow cases, and with the
assistance of United States Attorney A. E. Thompson of Oshkosh,
practically closed out all of that class of cases against the
government. He won for the government the test case on title to land on
which stands the new Milwaukee government building and superintended
the payments for the same. Since the close of President Harrison's
administration his attention has been largely devoted to corporation
law.

Mr. Colman enlisted as a private in Company G, First Wisconsin cavalry,
and served as private and commissary sergeant until January, 1863, when
he was honorably discharged for physical disability.

He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president in 1864, and
has always been a member of the Republican party. In 1867 he was
appointed register in bankruptcy, and held that position until 1872,
when he resigned

Page 435

it to take his seat as a member of the assembly in the Wisconsin
legislature. In that session he was chairman of the committee on
federal relations, and leader of the house on political matters. He
originated the movement and prepared the bill, which became a law the
following session, to abolish the office of state prison commissioner,
and put the affairs of the state prison in the hands of a board of
directors. In 1880 he was the nominee of the Republican party for
congress in the then Fifth district of Wisconsin, running against Gen.
E. S. Bragg, nominee of the Democratic party, and reducing his majority
about 4,000.

He is a member of the G. A. R. post; Ancient Order of United Workmen;
Knights of Honor, and Royal Arcanum. Of the latter he has been a member
of the supreme council for fifteen years, and is also a member of its
law committee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Colman was married to Lizzie M. Hill of Madison, Wis., September
29th, 1868. The children are Edna M. Colman, Claire Colman--died in
1888--Ralph H. Colman and Paul Colman.

COMBACKER, Albert, a lawyer and resident of Ellsworth, was born in
Boston, Mass., on the 15th of January, 1857, the son of John F. and
Mary A. Ferlin Combacker of German descent, who came to Wisconsin from
Boston, Mass., in the spring of 1857, and settled on a farm in St.
Croix county, where they resided until 1886.

Albert came with his parents to Wisconsin, being then but a few months
old, and his boyhood was spent on the farm, where he learned more of
the forces of nature, as witnessed in farm life, than in books,
although the advantages of the district school were by no means so
meager and imperfect as might have been expected in a country so new
and undeveloped as was northwestern Wisconsin at that time, and for
some years thereafter. Having secured the best education that the
common

[image: ALBERT COMBACKER.]

school could give him, he read law in the office of N. H. & M. E. Clapp
in Hudson, and, although he did not have the advantages of a course in
a law school, he was admitted to the bar in May, 1879, after an
examination in open court. He began the practice of his profession at
Ellsworth, Wis., in 1880.

It is no slight evidence of his legal ability that he was appointed, by
Gov. Rusk, county judge of St. Croix county to fill a vacancy caused by
the death of Hon. H. P. Ames. When the village of Ellsworth was
incorporated, in 1887, he was made president of it, and, with the
exception of one year, he has held the office ever since, and has held
the office of district attorney of the county for four terms.

In his political faith he is a Republican, but with the exception of
the office of district attorney he has not held any office that might
be regarded as in the nature of political remuneration for party
adherence or party work.

Mr. Combacker was married on the 9th of November, 1882,, to Ada F.
Brown, and they have two children--Marie and Gratia.

Page 436

[image: AUGUSTUS C. UMBREIT.]

UMBREIT Augustus C., assistant district attorney of Milwaukee county,
and a resident of Milwaukee, is the son of Rev. T. Umbreit, a pioneer
minister of the Methodist church, who has had charge of churches in
every section of the state, including four in Milwaukee. He is now
retired from active service because of feeble health, and is living in
Beaver Dam. His wife, Catherine Umbreit, nee Blockwitz, the mother of
A. C. Umbreit, died in Beaver Dam, Wis.,August 30th, 1896. Both parents
are natives of Germany, the father's family coming to America in 1854,
and locating in Green Lake county, Wis., and the mother's in 1840,
stopping for some time in New York state, and, later, coming to
Wisconsin. Both families belong to the agricultural class and have done
their full share toward transforming prairie and forest into the
fruitful fields and comfortable homes, for which the state is noted to-
day,and both are in comfortable financial circumstances as the result
of their toil.

A. C. Umbreit was born in Green Lake county, Wis., January 7th, 1861.
Being an only child for a number of years, he received his early 
education from his mother, along lines strictly in accord with the 
tenets of the church. After that he attended public schools in various 
places, and finally prepared for the university at the high school in 
Madison, graduating from that school in June, 1879. In the fall of the 
same year he entered the university, taking the ancient and modern 
classical courses, and graduating from both in June, 1883. He took 
special honors in Latin and in English literature. While in the 
university he was a member of the joint debating team, representing the 
Adelphian society in 1883. After graduation he was engaged in teaching 
for two years--the first year as principal of the high school in 
Winnebago, Ill., and then as principal of Allen's Academy in Chicago. In 
1885 he took the master's degree in Greek and history at the University 
of Wisconsin. After two years of teaching, he took up the insurance 
business and at the same time pursued the study of law. In this way his 
time was occupied until October, 1892, when he was admitted to the bar. 
He entered at once upon the practice of his profession and continued 
therein until January, 1895, when he received the appointment of 
assistant district attorney, in which position he has shown more than 
usual ability and fidelity, and has performed his official duties to the 
satisfaction of those who are familiar with the administration of the 
office. He has tried several murder cases and secured conviction in 
each. He is especially fond of court work, and has sought to acquire 
skill and success in the examination of witnesses, and the presenting of 
cases to juries.

In politics he has always been a Republican, as have all his immediate
relatives. He took an active part in politics long before he was of
age, going on the stump while at college when but eighteen years of
age, and has taken part in every campaign since. He has been chairman
of his ward committee, member of the county committee, secretary of the
State Republican league, and delegate to a number of conventions. He
has never sought or held a

Page 437

political office except the one he now holds--if that may be termed a
political office.

He belongs to several secret societies and has held and still holds
office in some of them. He is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church.

September 1st, 1886, Mr. Umbreit was married to Miss Helen Stanton of
Freeport, Ill., a distant relative of Edwin M. Stanton, the great
secretary of war in President Lincoln's cabinet. They have one son,
Stanton Umbreit, now two years old.

THOMPSON John Cameron, a resident of Oshkosh and member of the law firm
of Thompson, Harshaw & Thompson of that city, is one of the youngest
and most promising lawyers of the state. He was born in Princeton,
Green Lake county, Wis., April 28th, 1872, the son of J. C. and
Catherine Moser Thompson, who are of Scotch and Holland Dutch descent,
respectively. Young Thompson attended the district or common school,
and was afterward a student in Ripon College for four years. He then
entered the University of Wisconsin, and graduated from the law
department in 1893, as president of the class. In July, 1893, he became
a member of the law firm of Thompson, Harshaw & Davidson, consisting of
A. E. Thompson, H. B. Harshaw, ex-state treasurer, J. H. Davidson, the
present member of congress from that district, and J. C. Thompson. On
the 1st of July, 1894, the firm was changed to Thompson, Harshaw &
Thompson, and so it now remains.

Mr. Thompson is a Republican from principle and inclination, and his
active participation in politics dates from the presidential campaign
of 1892, when he was a member of the university law school and one of
the first to join the University Republican club. He has been a
delegate to congressional and state conventions and the National League
Republican club conventions. In the last presidential campaign he
stumped the northern part of

[image: JOHN CAMERON THOMPSON.]

the state for McKinley and the Republican ticket. He also spoke for
Harrison in the campaign of 1892. He is president of the Central
Republican club of Oshkosh.

Mr. Thompson is chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias, is a
Knight Templar and member of the B. P. O. E., and of the Union and the
Yacht clubs.

MORGAN, Win J., a young man who has gained an enviable reputation as
one of the most enterprising real estate dealers in Milwaukee, is the
son of James A. Morgan, a native of Dungarvan, Ireland, where he was
born on the 27th of February, 1830. He received a thorough collegiate
education, and came to Wisconsin in 1850. He was a resident of Madison
for three years, and then purchased a farm in the township of Rutland,
some fourteen miles from Madison, where he made his home for two years,
removing to Milwaukee in 1855. Win J. Morgan's mother was Augusta E.
Cromwell before marriage, the daughter of Dr. James F. Cromwell, and a
native of New York City. She was highly educated,

Page 438

[image: WIN J. MORGAN.]

spending some ten years in Paris in the study of music and the French
language.

After the family came to Milwaukee, Mr. Morgan engaged in fresco and
ornamental paper work for several years, and when the civil war came he
enlisted in a New York regiment and saw considerable service. He died
in Milwaukee in 1869.

Win J. Morgan was born in Milwaukee, October 22nd, 1862, and was
educated principally in the public schools of the city. The last six
months of schooling was received in Sparta, Wisconsin. When a mere boy
he manifested a taste and a capacity for business which were quite
remarkable. At nine years of age he began business as a newsboy, and
continued it for some years, making it fairly successful. When twelve
years old he enlarged his business enterprise by adding to his news
agency the driving of a grocery delivery wagon. His ambition then was
to have a grocery store of his own. Saving every penny that he could,
he realized his ambition by starting a store with his brother George,
at the corner of Cedar and Eighteenth streets. At the end of a year he
purchased the interest of his brother, and became sole proprietor. He 
continued the business for two years longer, meantime taking lessons in 
book-keeping and penmanship under a private tutor, in the evening, and 
rapidly becoming an adept in both. In 1881 he sold his store, and took 
the position of assistant book-keeper in the wholesale crockery store of 
Blair & Persons. He was soon promoted to head book-keeper and general 
credit man. He also spent two years for the firm as traveling salesman. 
When, in 1885, Mr. Persons retired from the business, Mr. Morgan 
assisted in the formation of the Blair & Andre company, becoming a 
stockholder and director in the corporation. He continued as traveling 
salesman until the company dissolved in 1889, when he became connected 
with the firm of Pitkin & Brooks of Chicago as their representative in 
northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan. He remained with this firm about 
two years, doing something the while in real estate, finally opening an 
office on Grand Avenue. The business grew rapidly on his hands, and he 
soon gave it his whole time, finally opening offices in the Pabst 
building.

His operations have assumed very large proportions, and are varied in
their scope. He has dealt exclusively in his own properties or those in
which he has had an interest, and has organized or assisted in the
organization of some twenty land companies. Associated with him in
these enterprises have been men of high business character, and he has
been an official of all the companies which he has organized. His
manner of carrying on his extensive business is methodical exact, and
requires the aid of able men.

Mr. Morgan is Republican in politics, and an Episcopalian in religion.
He is a member of the Merchants' Exchange, is vice-president of the
Milwaukee real estate board and holds the same office in the National
Real Estate association, is president of the South Arms Lumber company
of Michigan, supreme president of the Fraternal Alliance Insurance
association, a stockholder and director in the South

Page 439

Milwaukee National bank, and is officially connected with other
business enterprises of importance. He is a thirty-second degree Mason,
belonging to the Wisconsin Consistory, an officer of the mystic Shrine,
member of the Royal Arcanum and is a Knight of Pythias.

His wife was Miss Martha Wall of Milwaukee, a lady of accomplishments,
who understands the secret of making an attractive home.

MERRILL, Willard, was born in Rome, New York, January 16, 1831. For
thirty-seven years he has in some capacity been connected with the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance company. He is a college-bred man,
having graduated from Amherst College in 1854. He taught in the academy
at Bridgewater, Mass., for a time after graduating. In the spring of
1856 Mr. Merrill was admitted to practice in the supreme court of New
York. Immediately thereafter he came to Wisconsin. At that time the
railroad was being pushed from Milwaukee to Prairie du Chien, and it
was expected that this river town would become a great city. He located
there and remained in Prairie du Chien until 1860, when he went to
Janesville, pursuing the practice of his profession, and for several
years prior to removing to Milwaukee he has the law partner of the Hon.
J. B. Cassoday, who is now chief justice of the supreme court of
Wisconsin. It was in Janesville that Mr. Merrill became interested in
the insurance business and became connected with the insurance company
of which he has so long been an official. He was found of the study of
insurance law and was induced to accept the offer of the insurance 
company to become its secretary. He therefore abandoned the practice of
law and came to Milwaukee in January, 1873, and assumed the duties of
his new position. On December 19th, 1881, he was made superintendent of
agencies, and was soon after made second vice-president of the company,
and July 18, 1894, he was elected

[image: WILLARD MERRILL.]

vice-president. Mr. Merrill has always been a Republican, and in the
Wisconsin legislature of 1871 he was the member of the assembly from
the Janesville district. After his election and before the meeting of
the legislature, Gov. Fairchild appointed him upon the visiting
committee, whose duty it was to examine and report upon the condition
of the penal and charitable institutions of the state. Subsequently,
and at the organization of the board, he was made a member of the state
board of charities and reforms, the members of which received no
compensation and were charged with the duty of visiting and supervising
the penal and charitable institutions of the state and also the county
jails and poorhouses. Upon coming to Milwaukee Mr. Merrill's official
duties did not permit him to give the time necessary for the work of
this board and he resigned. Mr. Merrill has been a thorough student of
life insurance in its various aspects, and it was he who at a recent
banquet of the Wisconsin underwriters suggested the creation of a chair
of insurance at the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Merrill lives at 95
Prospect avenue.

Page 440

[image: WILLIAM T. VAN KIRK.]

VAN KIRK, William T., a leading grocer of Janesville, was born in
Carlton, Orleans county, N. Y., January 25th, 1843, his parents being
John J. and Elizabeth A. Van Kirk, both descendants of old Holland
families. The paternal grandfather of William was Oliver Van Kirk, who
settled in western New York about the year 1790. William came to
Wisconsin with his parents in 1845, the family settling on a farm near
Milton, in the town of Harmony, where he attended the district school
in the winters until he arrived at the age of thirteen, when he entered
Milton College and was a student there for two terms. In 1858 he went
to Janesville, where he was employed in the provision store of C. H.
Conrad until the winter of 1862-63, when he embarked in business for
himself, opening a small grocery on North Main street. In January,
1864, he formed a copartnership with J. H. Conrad, now a member of the
wholesale spice house of Bell, Conrad & Co., of Chicago, and the new
firm succeeded to the business of C. H. Conrad, with whom Mr. Van Kirk
had formerly been employed. This partnership expired, by limitation, in
1869, and since that time Mr. Van Kirk has been alone in business, 
having had an uninterrupted experience in the grocery trade for almost 
forty years. During this time he has built up a large and prosperous 
business, and has established for himself a permanent place among the 
successful business men of Janesville.

Mr. Van Kirk's mother died in Janesville, August 18th, 1887, and his
father died in December, 1895, aged eighty years.

On the 6th of May, 1868, Mr. Van Kirk was united in marriage with Miss
Belle Bostwick, a native of New York, whose birthplace was near
Batavia. Five children grace this union, four sons and a daughter--
Fannie Belle, William C., Frank W., Joseph A. and James Garfield. The
latter was born on the day Gen. Garfield was nominated for the
presidency, and was named in honor of the distinguished man. "Garry,"
as he was familiarly known, lived a short, pure life, loved and
respected by all, and died June 28th, 1892, aged twelve years.

In politics Mr. Van Kirk is a thorough Republican, and since becoming a
voter has cast his ballot and labored earnestly for the success of that 
party. He has held various positions of honor and trust, having served
four years as a member of the city council, over four years as member
and treasurer of the board of trustees of the State Institute for the
Blind; secretary of the Rock County Agricultural society six years, a
member of the Janesville fire department twenty-one years, and
president of the same several years. Being a recognized leader in local
politics, he was, twenty years ago, chosen chairman of the Republican
county committee, and has faithfully served in that capacity to the
present time.

Socially he is a member of the Janesville Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M.,
Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M.; Oriental Lodge, No. 22, Knights of
Pythias; Mohawk Tribe, No. 3, Independent Order of Red Men, and Rock
County Caledonia society.

Mr. Van Kirk, with several others, procured the charter for the present
electric light plant, also the street railway and the Janesville
Hydraulic

Page 441

company, and these companies afterwards donated their interests in
these several enterprises to further the city's growth and promote its
welfare. Mr. Van Kirk at present is president of the Janesville
Business Men's association, of the Oak Lawn Charity hospital, of the
Hanson Furniture company, the Janesville Hay Tool company, a member of
the board of supervisors, and also of the Oak Hill Cemetery
association.

Mr. Van Kirk is an enterprising, successful business man, broad and
liberal in his views respecting public policy, and can always be relied
upon to faithfully perform whatever he undertakes. He belongs to the
progressive class of Janesville's citizens, and is well informed on all
the leading issues of the day. It is Mr. Van Kirk's intention soon to
retire from active mercantile business, and his many friends will wish
him a long life in his beautiful home, surrounded by his family, and in
the enjoyment of the fruits of his many years of toil and anxiety.

KUEMMERLEIN, George Michael., superintendent of transportation of the
Milwaukee street railroad system, is one of those men, who, as a boy,
began at the bottom of a business and worked his way well up toward the
top. He was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, October 28th, 1848, and came
to this country with his parents in May, 1853, settling on the south
side in Milwaukee, at what is now Mineral street and Second avenue. His
father, Andrew Kuemmerlein, who is now retired from business, is a
native of Germany, as were all his ancestors. The immediate relatives
of the family all came to this country at about the time he did, and
their careers have been much the same as those of other immigrants of
their class. George M. attended the parochial school connected with St.
Peter's Protestant church about two years, and at the age of fifteen
years commenced work for Fred. Layton as coachman, remaining in his
employ two years. After that he went into the employ of the street
railway

[image: GEORGE MICHAEL KUEMMERLEIN.]

company, as conductor, under Superintendent Blodgett, but remained
there only two months. He then left Milwaukee for New York City, thence
to Atlanta, Ga., Columbia, S. C., and through different sections of the
south. During his absence in the south he served five years in the
regular army, where he gained no little experience which has been of
service to him in his subsequent career. Returning to Milwaukee, he re-
entered the service of the street railway company, at the head of which
was Isaac Ellsworth. This was in March, 1875. He began as a driver, and
was promoted from time to time until he reached his present responsible
position of superintendent of transportation, in which he has proven
most efficient because he has grown into the system.

He is a Republican in his political views, and votes the ticket of that
party in all national campaigns, but does not take an active part in
campaign work. He is not a member of any club or of any church.

Mr. Kuemmerlein was married in January, 1870, to Augusta Hauck, and
they have three children--Ella, George and Walter.

Page 442

[image: CHRISTIAN PREUSSER.]

PREUSSER, Christian, for more than fifty years in active business in
Milwaukee, and still known as one of the leading merchants of the city,
was born in Idstein, dukedom of Nassau, Germany, in 1826. Leaving
school at the age of fifteen, he learned the trade of watch-maker and
jeweler; and, in 1844, came to Milwaukee. In October of that year he
opened a small jewelery store on the site of the Kirby house. The
business increased slowly, but steadily, and in 1855 Mr. Preusser
erected the brick building which the firm now occupies on the corner of
East Water and Mason streets. At this time his brother, Gustav, became
his partner, and has so continued until the present time, though the
style of the firm has been changed to the C. Preusser Jewelry company,
which is one of the largest in its line in the nortwest, and its
reputation in trade circles is among the best. His son is now a member
of the company and its treasurer.

In 1854 Mr. Preusser became president of the Milwaukee Mechanics'
Insurance company, and has held the position continuously to the
present time. Under his control the company has steadily advanced until 
it now has assets of two and one- half millions of dollars, a surplus of 
over one and a quarter millions, and its standing among similar 
institutions in this country is second to none. He was for many years 
one of the stockholders and managers of the Cream City Street Railway 
company, which was the principal line subsequently incorporated in the 
present street railway system of Milwaukee.

In the early days of the city Mr. Preusser was one of the most active
and useful of its citizens. He was a member of the volunteer fire
department, of which S. S. Daggett was chief, and such men as Gen.
Rufus King, E. P. Allis, John Nazro, and the like, were members. Mr.
Preusser was its treasurer until it was superseded by the paid
department, when he was appointed one of the trustees to distribute the
funds of the volunteer organization. Thus it will be seen that Mr.
Preusser has, through his long career, steadily served in some
fiduciary capacity, and always to the acceptance of those concerned.

Interested in the educational progress of the city and state, as well
as in their commercial development, he has done much toward fostering
enterprises and efforts of an educational nature, giving freely of his
time to that end. He was one of the founders and for more than twenty
years president of the Natural History society of Wisconsin; and, when
its collections were presented to Milwaukee in 1882, he was appointed
one of the trustees of the public museum, and was active in procuring
for that institution the valued collection of Prof. H. A. Ward of
Rochester, N. Y. He was also treasurer of the German-English Academy
from the time of its founding until 1886, and of the National German-
American Teachers' Seminary until the same year, when ill-health
compelled his resignation of those responsible positions.

Mr. Preusser was married, in 1851, to Miss Louise Hermann of Dietz,
dukedom of Nasau, Germany. They have had four children, but only two of
them are living--Mrs. Dr.

Page 443

Schneider, the wife of the eminent oculist of Milwaukee, and Herman
Preusser, who is now treasurer of the Preusser Jewelry company.

In the matter of politics Mr. Pruesser was anti-slavery, and since the
organization of the Republican party he has been one of its staunchest
members; but he has never sought office at the hands of the party. He
is a member of the German club.

Industrious, energetic and sagacious in business affairs, he has
naturally been steadily successful in whatever he has undertaken. A
gentleman of cultivated tastes, genial manners and modest bearing, he
is a pleasant companion and a worthy citizen.

CARY, Alfred L., long a resident of Milwaukee, and a lawyer of
extensive experience as a corporation counsel, was born in Sterling,
Cayuga county, N. Y., July 23rd, 1835. His education was begun in the
schools of his native town, and, in 1853, he came to Racine, Wis.,
where he attended the high school for two years. He then returned to
the state of New York and completed his education in the seminary at
Fulton. In 1858 he came again to Racine, entering, as a student, the
law office of his uncle, the late John W. Cary, who was for many years
one of the ablest and most accomplished lawyers of Wisconsin. Upon the
removal of the latter to Milwaukee, in 1859, the young student came
with him, and continued his legal studies until, in 1860, he was
admitted to the bar. He was in his uncle's office until 1864, when he
formed a partnership with him, which continued in operation until 1874.
He then formed a partnership with the late J. P. C. Cottrill. This
firm, until its dissolution in 1882, acted as attorneys for the
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway company. After the dissolution
of the firm of Cottril & Cary, Mr. Cary became the general solicitor of
the company, although from 1874 he had had the principal charge of all
its legal business. To this branch of professional work Mr. Cary has
devoted the

[image: ALFRED L. CARY.]

greater portion of his time and thought, and has become an adept
therein. There are not many members of the Milwaukee bar who have had a
wider experience in railroad business than he, and few who have a
better knowledge of the practice and principles which it involves.

Mr. Cary is a Democrat in politics, but has never been what may be
called active in political work. His experience in public life is
confined to one term in the city council and one in the state assembly,
to which he was elected in 1873. His tastes have never been for
official life, but strictly in the line of his profession, to which he
has always been devoted and in which he is ranked among the leaders. He
is not only a profound student of the law, but is an extensive and
appreciative reader of general literature.

As a citizen, he is public-spirited, is deeply and intelligently
interested in all questions involving the public welfare, and ready to
do his share in its promotion.

He was married in September, 1864, to Miss Harriet M. Van Slyck of
Milwaukee, and they have three sons and a daughter.

Page 444

[image: AMOS A. L. SMITH.]

SMITH, Amos A. L., a resident of Milwaukee and member of the noted law
firm of Winkler Flanders, Smith, Bottum & Vilas, as born in Appleton,
Wis., September 8th, 1849, being the first white child born in that
place. His father, Reeder Smith, as agent of Amos A. Lawrence of
Boston, Mass., was the founder of Appleton and one of its first
settlers. The city was laid out and built on land which Mr. Lawrence
bought from the government, and it is from him that Lawrence University
takes its name. The elder Smith was a man of ability and character, and
prominent not only in the early history of Appleton, but in that
portion of the state--one of the men who helped to lay the foundations
upon which has been reared the prosperous commonwealth of to-day.

Young Smith was brought up in Appleton, received his primary education
in the public schools of the young city, and was fitted for a college
course in Lawrence University. In the autumn of 1869, he entered
Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., taking the regular classical
course, and graduated in 1872. He also took several special studies in
the department of engineering, edited the college paper for two years,
and was conspicuous for his literary ability and for his readiness as a
debater in the college societies. In the last year of his course he won
the first prizes in English composition and oratory, and was one of the
honor men of his class. On leaving college he became traveling
correspondent for The Chicago Inter Ocean, and a few months thereafter,
a member of the editorial staff of that paper. While occupying this
latter position he began the study of law, in which he was accorded the
benefit of the extensive law library of John Y. Scammon, the founder
and at that time one of the proprietors of the paper. After completing
a thorough course of reading, he came to Milwaukee in 1874, where he
finished his law studies, and was admitted to the bar the same year. At
the request of Matt. H. Carpenter, then, United States senator, the
young lawyer entered the office of Carpenter & Murphy, and he was thus
given an opportunity of participating in the large and varied business
of that firm, especially as the official duties of the senator kept him
much of the time away from the office. This was an admirable
introduction to legal business of the more important kind, and one not
often enjoyed by a young attorney. That he made good use of his
opportunities was at once shown when he began practice for himself.
Upon the retirement of Mr. Carpenter from the senate in 1876, and his
return to the regular practice of his profession, Mr. Smith rented the
office and library of E. G. Ryan, who had become chief justice of the
supreme court of Wisconsin, and entered upon the practice of his
profession on his own account. Before the end of the year, however, at
the solicitation of Messrs. Carpenter and Winfield Smith, he united
with them in the formation of the co-partnership of Carpenter & Smiths,
which lasted until Mr. Carpenter's death in 1881. His partnership with
Winfield Smith was continued for some years, after which he became a
member of the firm of Jenkins, Winkler & Smith, and when Mr. Jenkins
was

Page 445

appointed to the United States district court judgeship, Mr. Smith
formed one of the new firm of Winkler, Flanders, Smith, Bottum & Vilas.

Mr. Smith's standing at the bar is of the highest, and few, if any, of
the younger members have been connected with more important litigation
than he. Thoroughly equipped for his professional work by long and
close study and by association with the foremost members of the bar,
and regarding it as one of the noblest of professions, he has naturally
met with unusual success in its practice. He is, however, not all
lawyer. Through all the arduous duties of his profession he has
retained the love for literature and the highest walks of scholarship
which was conspicuous in his collegiate career. His private library,
which is the best index of a man's character and tastes, is large and
selected with great care.

Mr. Smith was married, in 1874, to Miss Frances Louise Brown of
Chicago, a woman of rare graces and accomplishments.

RICHARDSON, Edwin George, rector of St. James Episcopal church, was
born in the city of Baltimore, January 5, 1856. His father, the Rev.
Samuel mcdonald Richardson, president of the Savings Bank of Baltimore,
and perpetual deacon of the diocese of Maryland, was lineally descended
from Major William Richardson, who settled on a plantation in Baltimore
county in 1760. His mother, Hannah Treadwell Robinson, is the great-
great-great-granddaughter of Governor Royal William Robinson of the
Colony of Rhode Island.

Mr. Richardson graduated from Pembroke academy, Baltimore, at the age
of 15 years, and, after a year's vacation, entered the importing and
jobbing house of Carson, Richardson & Co., Baltimore. They dealt in
sugars, coffees, teas and spices, and during a three years' service
with them, he occupied in turn the positions of collector, bill clerk,
assistant

[image: EDWIN GEORGE RICHARDSON.]

book-keeper and custom house clerk, and this experience gave him a
thorough business education. He then read law for two years in the
chambers of Judge William A. Stewart of the superior court of
Baltimore. Next came a year passed partly in travel and partly in
coaching for the Johns Hopkins university, from which he graduated, cum
magna laude, in 1880. Immediately thereafter he became a student in the
Philadelphia divinity school, from which he graduated, taking class
honors, in 1883. In June of that year he took duty as assistant in
Trinity church, Newark, New Jersey, having charge also of a thriving
mission among the operatives of the Clark Thread mills. In less than a
year he accepted the rectorship of St. Stephen's church, Newark, which
he resigned in 1885, in order to be free to accept a call to St. James'
church, Milwaukee, which rectorship he still holds.

Mr. Richardson was secretary of the council of the diocese of Milwaukee
for one year and a member of the board of missions for six years. He
has also been on standing committees for two years and has twice been
sent as deputy to the general convention.

Page 446

[image: JOHN BAPTIST ADOLPH KERN.]

KERN, John Baptist Adolph, whose name was long prominent as that of one
of the most active and progressive business men of Milwaukee, was born
in Bavaria, on the 29th of September, 1829, and came to this country in
early manhood, settling in Philadelphia, and there engaging in
business. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Lena Bertschy, daughter of
Jacob Bertschy of Milwaukee, former owner of the mill which by Mr.
Kern's energy and foresight was later developed into one of the great
manufacturing plants of the city. The mill, which was the pioneer of
the business in Milwaukee, was established in 1844 by Dr. E. B. Wolcott
and John Anderson. Two years later it was sold to Jacob Bertschy,
formerly of Sheboygan, who named it the Eagle mill, enlarged and
improved it, and in connection with his son, John, operated it
continuously until 1855, when the elder Bertschy died. The business was
continued by John Bertschy until 1859, when he retired; and a younger
brother, Frederick, purchased the property of the heirs, and in
partnership with J. B. A. Kern, the firm name being Bertschy & Kern,
continued the business. The mill was then an old and somewhat 
dilapidated concern, with but three "run of stone," and a daily capacity 
of 200 barrels of flour. In 1861 Fred. Bertschy retired, and John 
Bertschy took his place in the firm, remaining in it until 1866, during 
which the business was pushed to the utmost capacity of the mill. By 
this time Mr. Kern had become a leading spirit in the firm, and, seeing 
large possibilities, in the enterprise, he dissolved the partnership, 
and at once made preparations for greatly enlarging the business. A new 
site was purchased and a new and more commodious building erected, which 
formed the nucleus of the present extensive structure. Into this new 
mill was put machinery of the newest pattern and of greatly enlarged 
capacity; and the results of the enterprise and push of Mr. Kern began 
to be at once apparent in the greatly enlarged output of the mill and 
the vastly improved quality of the product. But Mr. Kern was not 
satisfied with small things, and continued to enlarge his building and 
improve its machinery by the introduction of all the latest inventions, 
though by so doing much of the machinery in use, although nearly new, 
was rendered practically valueless. The new mill, from a building of 40 
by 130 feet and two stories in height, had grown into one of 135 by 180 
feet and six stories high; while the old method of grinding with stones 
had been almost entirely superseded by that of the roller or crusher, 
one hundred and fifty sets of which had been introduced. The number of 
employes had grown to two hundred, and the daily capacity of the mill 
had been increased from less than three hundred barrels to three 
thousands, and the quality of the flour placed on a par with the very 
best produced anywhere in the country--indeed, Kern's brand of Success 
flour became famous throughout the United States and in Europe. Such are 
the achievements of one man, who began his life work with a limited 
education, and with little or no capital, and without influential 
friends. His career is a striking illustration of what may be 
accomplished in this country in the course of comparatively

Page 447

a few years by energy, industry, the capacity to grasp the
possibilities of the situation, and the ability to execute what
judgement has approved. All these elements of success Mr. Kern
possessed in an unusual degree; and his accomplished work is the best
monument to his ability that could be reared. Energetic and aggressive
as he was in business matters, he was courteous in social life,
although he had little time and inclination for its amenities. His
death occurred on January 16th, 1892.

The great business which he built up and which he conducted for so many
years is still successfully carried on by his sons, John F. and A.
Kern, under the old firm name of John B. A. Kern & Sons. The firm is
now also manufacturing a full line of cereal products, which is
developing into a large element of their business.

ISHAM, Fred. Willard, cashier of the First National Bank of Elkhorn, is
the son of Joseph Trumbull Isham, a retired farmer, in comfortable
circumstances, and of Mary Jane Sturtevant Isham. Mr. Isham's paternal
ancestors were of English Puritan stock, who settled in Connecticut,
and including the Phillips, Fuller, Carver and Trumbull families,
figured conspicuously in the early history of that state.

Mr. Isham was born near Elkhorn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, February
23rd, 1850. After passing through the district schools, he took a full
course in the Whitewater Normal school, from which he graduated in
June, 1875. The fall succeeding his graduation he was elected
superintendent of schools for Walworth county, was re-elected in 1877,
and held the office four years. In 1879 he was elected secretary of the
State Teachers' association, and thus acquired an extensive and most
pleasant acquaintance among the teachers of the state.

In 1880 Mr. Isham engaged in the drug business in Elkhorn, and
conducted it successfully

[image: FRED. WILLARD ISHAM.]

for ten years, when he withdrew from it and became connected with the
First National Bank of Elkhorn, and for several years past has held the
position of cashier in that institution. As a business man he is
accurate as to detail, conservative in method and policy, of scrupulous
integrity and courteous in manner.

In politics he is a Republican, and is a leader in political affairs;
has served on the village board several terms, and on the local board
of education for a number of years, and was secretary of the Old
Settlers' society of Walworth county for seven years. He is a Knight
Templar Mason.

In 1893 Mr. Isham was married to Ruth E. Wales, daughter of an old and
influential citizen of Elkhorn. She also graduated from the Whitewater
Normal school, and was afterward engaged, for four years, in teaching
in the normal schools of the Argentine Republic, South America. They
have no children. They own and occupy an elegant residence property on
the west side of the Court House park, which is one of the centers of
culture, refinement and genial hospitality.

Page 448

[image: ALBERT WHITTEMORE SANBORN.]

SANBORN, Albert Whittemore, one of the foremost lawyers of Ashland, and
member of one of the prominent legal firms of northern Wisconsin, is
the son of George W. and Cornelia C. Whittemore Sanborn, and was born
in Swanton, Vt., January 17th, 1853. He was educated in the common
country schools, a private school and Muskingum College, the latter of
which he attended for three years, but did not graduate. He taught
school from his seventeenth year until he was twenty-three; and, during
two years of that time, studied law with Barnes & Anderson, of
Cambridge, Ohio. In April, 1876, he was admitted to the bar in
Cambridge, on examination; and, in June of the same year, came to
Wisconsin, located at Stevens Point and began the practice of law. At
first he was alone, but soon after formed a partnership with D. Lloyd
Jones, then of Stevens Point, but now of Milwaukee, under the firm name
of Jones & Sanborn. This partnership continued until March, 1889, when
G. W. Cate became a member of the firm, he taking the place at its
head. This firm continued almost seven years, when it was superseded by
that of Cate, Sanborn, Lamoreux & Park, the members of which are G. W. 
Cate, A. W. Sanborn, Frank B. Lamoreux and Byron B. Park. This firm has 
been connected with some celebrated cases, among which was the trial of 
W. W. Hazeltine for the shooting of A. E. Morse, that of Henry and John 
D. Curran for the shooting of W. W. Hazeltine, and the Mead murder case. 
In 1893 the firm had considerable business at Ashland, and Mr. Sanborn 
went thither and formed a partnership with John F. Dufur and C. A. 
Anderson, the firm name being Sanborn, Dufur & Anderson. After a time D. 
F. O'Keefe took the place of Mr. Anderson in the firm, which so 
continued until January, 1897, when it was dissolved by mutual consent 
and succeeded by the firm of Cate, Sanborn, Lamoreoux & Park.

Mr. Sanborn is a Republican, and as such has held a number of offices.
He was district attorney of Portage county for the years 1883-4, was
elected to the assembly in 1884 and served one term, declining re-
election. He was a delegate from the Ninth congressional district to
the Republican national convention which met in Chicago in 1888, and
nominated Benjamin Harrison for president. He served two terms as
alderman of the First ward of Stevens Point, and was a member of the
board of education of that city for ten years, four years of which he
was president of the board. While a member of the board he made a long
and strong fight, which was finally successful, for better school
houses and better school equipments; and for this progressive measure
he deserves the thanks of all good citizens.

He is a Mason, a Knight Templar, Knight of Pythias, and a member of the
Episcopal church of Stevens Point.

July 16th, 1884, Mr. Sanborn was married to Jessie Louise Walker,
daughter of John A. Walker, at one time a prominent lumberman of
Stevens Point. Their children are: Norman Walker, Albert Beckwith and
Helen May Sanborn, aged, respectively, eleven, six and three years.

Page 449

CONNOR, William Duncan, is a resident of Marshfield, and extensively
engaged in the lumber there. His father, Robert Connor, located at
Auburndale, Wood county, in 1872, and was one of the first settlers on
the line of the Wisconsin Central railroad after it was built north
from Stevens Point. Born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, November 25th,
1838, Robert Connor came to Canada when sixteen years of age, but was
wrecked on his way over, losing everything he had except the clothes on
his back. With true Scotch pluck, however, he set to work, and ere long
had a farm and home in Canada. But the vast pine forests of northern
Wisconsin attracted him, and, with two brothers, he made his home at
Auburndale and began lumbering in the forests of that region. He bought
a saw mill and later organized the R. Connor Lumber company, of which
he was the president and W. D. Connor vice-president and treasurer.
From that beginning came the large business that is now being conducted
by the company. He was also largely engaged in mercantile pursuits, and
for many years was the leading, dominating spirit of the pioneer
settlement and its business. Not only a man of culture, but one of
indomitable perseverance, of great energy and enterprise, he was one
who made his mark upon the community. He held several local offices and
in 1888 was a member of the legislature, and made a record as a wise
and safe law-maker. He died suddenly in 1896.

W. D. Connor was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, March 24th,
1864, and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1872. He received the
rudiments of his education in the little log school house built in the
woods at Auburndale shortly after Mr. Connor, Sr., moved there. After
leaving the district school, he was a student at the Oshkosh normal
school for two years, afterwards entering Lake Forest University. After
this educational preparation he commenced his business career, at the
age of eighteen years, by looking after his father's extensive logging
and

[image: WILLIAM DUNCAN CONNOR.]

lumber interests, and has been steadily engaged in the lumber business
up to the present time.

Mr. Connor has always been an active Republican, and has rendered his
party much service in the conducting of its local campaigns. He has
been chairman of the Republican county committee for several years, and
was chairman of the congressional committee of the Eight district four
years ago, and has been a delegate from Wood county in the last three
or four Republican state conventions. He has taken an active interest
in and managed some of the most exciting of the local political
struggles for which Wood county has been noted. But his public service
has not been confined exclusively to political work--he was for
thirteen years a member of the county board of Wood county, and twice
its chairman. At the present time he is devoting himself to his private
business, which is extensive and varied in character, embracing the
duties of president of the R. Connor Lumber company, the German-
American bank and the control of a large farm near Auburndale, which is
stocked with wellbred

Page 450

bred horses and cattle, in which he takes great interest.

Mr. Connor was married, in 1886, to Mary B. Witter, daughter of Dr. G.
F. Witter of Grand Rapids.

Robert and W. D. Connor are notable examples of the courage,
enterprise, business sagacity and inflexible perseverance by which the
resources of the northern part of the state have been developed, and
fortunes have been made--men who have not only carved out their own
fortunes, but at the same time have laid deep the foundations of many
beneficent local institutions.

STOVER, James Harney, member of the Milwaukee bar, was born in
Crawfordsville, Indiana, on the 17th of March, 1849. His father was D.
C. Stover, a lawyer by profession, who has held important official
positions in Indiana--has been state's attorney, member of the state
senate and of the constitutional convention, was one of the revisers of
the laws of Indiana and financial agent of the state; but now lives a
retired life at his beautiful home near Ladoga, Indiana, at the age of
seventy-three. Mr. Stover's mother before marriage was Frances M.
Harney, daughter of G. T. Harney's a noted preacher of Indiana and
Kentucky; a niece of John H. Harney, editor of The Louisville Democrat,
and also niece of Gen. W. T. Harney of the United States army. She was
a sister of Hon. J. F. Harney, circuit judge of Montgomery county,
Indiana. She died in 1863, leaving two boys and a girl. Mr. Stover's
ancestry were Swiss and Prussian on his father's side, and Irish,
English and Holland on his mother's. The ancestors on both sides
emigrated to this country before 1776, and all males of suitable age
were in the struggle for liberty--none were tories.

Mr. Stover received his elementary education at the Ladoga Academy, and
after that attended the Kentucky university for four years, but did not
graduate, as poor health prevented his completing the full course. He
came to Burlington, Wisconsin, in 1876, and was there married to Miss
Belle Spoor. The following year he left the state, but returned in
1884, making his home in Milwaukee, where he has since resided.

At the age of sixteen, while attending Kentucky university, at
Lexington, he was persuaded by a divinity student to preach a sermon at
Nicholasville; and, a year thereafter his brother, Bertie, began
preaching at the age of fourteen. Thereupon these two boys set out on a
preaching tour through the southern and western states, and the novelty
of the affair attracted large numbers to their meetings. In 1871 he
took charge of the Christian church at Carlisle, Kentucky, which had a
large and wealthy congregation. The brother, Bertie, had a church of
the same denomination at Dubuque, Iowa. The younger brother's health
failing, the two young men and their father went to Colorado, and
engaged in the real estate and abstract business. The younger brother
died ind 1875, and the next year J. H. Stover returned, was married, as
already stated, and took charge of the Christian church at South Bend,
Indiana, remaining its pastor until 1882. The congregation was always
large, and the number of members was greatly increased; a new house of
worship was built, and the church prospered in an unusual manner. In
1882 he left the ministry, and became the agent, in Milwaukee, of the
Travelers' Insurance company of Hartford, Connecticut, and served it
for three years. After that he was successively the agent of the
Northwestern Mutual Life of Milwaukee, the New York, Life, and the
Equitable of New York, and left the service of the latter only when he
decided to begin the practice of law, which was in 1892. The first year
of his practice he was alone; after that he had for partners A. C.
Brazee and A. W. Bell, until January, 1895, when the partnership was
dissolved, and since then he has been in general practice alone.

Mr. Stover has seven children--four boys and three girls--who are all
in the people's

Page 451

college, the public school, and the promising students.

Mrs. Stover's parents were early settlers in Walworth county,
Wisconsin, and John S. Spoor was one of the leading citizens of the
county.

Mr. Stover is an Odd Fellow, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a member of
the Christian church--an organization formed by Alexander Campbell, and
having a large membership in the south. He began the practice of law
when forty-three years of age, with a family of nine, and only ten
dollars in his pocket, and not a single client in sight; yet he has
maintained his family, built up a large practice, and may be properly
regarded as a "man of progress." The first money that he earned was for
binding wheat after a reaper, for which he received a man's wages,
although but thirteen years of age. He worked in a woolen mill when a
boy, and learned to run the carding machine and spinning jack. As an
insurance agent he was quite successful, writing from half a million to
a million dollars insurance each year.

In the four years from 1873 to 1876, Mr. Stover traveled extensively in
Colorado, and made himself familiar with the various phases of the
mining business, and made money therein. He was a silver man in the
last presidential campaign, and advocated on the stump the election of
Bryan to the presidency. Although popular as a speaker and in request
in campaigns for that reason, he has not sought office himself,
although frequently urged to do so. He was too young to enter the army
during the war, but with other boys of his neighborhood, he studied the
military drill that he might be prepared for service should the war
continue until after he was of military age. When a boy his father took
him on his visits to prominent men, and in this way he came to know
very many with whose names the nation has become familiar.

Among his classmates at the University of Kentucky were young men who
have since

[image: JAMES HARNEY STOVER.]

become famous, such as Congressman McMillen of Tennessee, James Lane
Allen, the novelist of Kentucky, and a number of others whose influence
upon him was, doubtless, formative and inspiring. He says, however,
that he is more indebted to his father for what he has accomplished in
life than to any one else. His father was his companion and adviser,
and always encouraged him to strive for the attainment of high ideals.

End Part 14