Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 486-520) 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. ======================================================================== USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kelly Mullins, kellyj@snowcrest.net ======================================================================== Page 486 continued STARK, Joshua, for many years one of the leaders of the Milwaukee bar and president of the Milwaukee Bar association, is the son of Rev. Jedediah L. Stark, a native of Bozrah. New London county, Connecticut, who graduated from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and became pastor of the Congregational church in West Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1820. There he remained until 1839, when he removed to Canajoharie, Montgomery county, New York, and thence, in 1842, to the town of German Flats in Herkimer county, in the same estate, where he resided until his death. Like the great majority of Page 487 people in those days, he was always in very moderate circumstances, necessitating the strictest economy in domestic affairs, but insuring such habits among the children as in after years were found to be the basis of their material success. Joshua Stark's mother was Hannah Gager, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Gager of Bozrah, Connecticut. She was a noble, Christian woman, of rare virtues and unusual abilities. His grandmother was a Miss Lathrop before marriage, and a lineal descendant of William Hyde, who settled in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1630. Joshua Stark was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, August 12th, 1828. He attended the district school where he lived until he was nine years of age, when he entered the village academy in West Brattleboro, where he attended until the family removed to Canajoharic. The next school that he attended was the academy in the neighboring village of Ames, at the head of which was Silas Chapman, now, and for many years, a respected resident of Milwaukee. Still later, when the family had removed to Herkimer county, he continued his studies in the academies of Herkimer and Little Falls. It is an evidence not only of the studious habits and the ambition of young Stark, but of the thoroughness of the instruction in the schools of that day, that he entered the sophomore, or second year, class in Union College, in the spring of 1846, when he was not yet eighteen years of age. In January, 1847, when he had been less than a year in college, he accepted the situation of private tutor in the family of Edward C. Marshall of Fauquier county, Virginia, the youngest son of Chief Justice Marshall of the United States supreme court, remaining in the position until December of the same year, meanwhile pursuing the studies of his own class in college, which he rejoined in January, 1848, and with which he graduated with honor, in June of the same year, while not yet twenty years of age. During his college course he was a member of the Kappa Alpha society, and also of the Adelphic and Theological societies, [image: JOSHUA STARK.] the purposes of which were literary rather than social. At his graduation the faculty of the college elected him a member of the honorary society of the Phi Beta Kappa. In September, 1848, he entered the law office of J. N. & D. Lake, in Little Falls, N. Y., remaining there in the study of law for nearly two years. During this time he was employed as assistant teacher in the academy, and served one year as village clerk and the greater part of a year as superintendent of schools. On the 3rd of July, 1850, he passed the examination, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Watertown, N. Y. Having determined to locate in Wisconsin, he set out in the fall of 1850 for Milwaukee, making the journey by rail and lake, and reached the city on the 6th of October. Alex, W. and E. M. Randall, formerly of Ames, N. Y., were then practicing law in Waukesha, and being old acquaintances, young Stark called upon them as friends and to take their advice as to the best course for him to pursue. He was anxious to gain a practical knowledge of the German language as a means of fitting him for securing business in the line of his Page 488 profession, and they gave him a letter of introduction to the late Fred. W. Horn of Cedarburg, as the means most likely to secure him some business, and at the same time enable him to accomplish his purpose with regard to the German language. He formed a provisional partnership with Mr. Horn for six months; but, though he gained much knowledge of the German language, he gained little practical professional knowledge and less money. In this isolated and lonely village, amid strange surroundings, he passed seven months, which gave him plenty of time to contemplate his prospects in life and the obstacles to be overcome by even an ambitious and well-equipped young man before success can be obtained. In May, 1851, he bade adieu to the place of exile, and took up his residence in Milwaukee, where, living at the principal German hotel in the city, he continued the study of the German language, the facilities for which were excellent there, as many Germans of culture and wide experience, who had fled from their country because of their participation in the ill-fated revolution of 1848-50, were its temporary guests. With these men Mr. Stark associated freely for some two years; and, though he had not yet accomplished much in the way of practice, he had succeeded in acquiring a knowledge of the German language that enabled him to speak it like a native; and which, as he anticipated, has been of great practical advantage to him in all his subsequent career. As an evidence that people are now slow in their recognition of character and ability, Mr. Stark was elected city attorney in the spring of 1853, or when he was not yet twenty-five years of age, and when he had been a resident of the city scarcely two years. The duties of the office were faithfully performed, and to the public satisfaction; and, in 1855, he was chosen a member of the lower house of the legislature for the session of 1856. He was appointed chairman of the judiciary committee and a member of the committee on banking, both of them among the most important committees in the assembly. During this session the celebrated contested case of Bashford against Barstow, for the gubernatorial office, came up, and was the source of much excitement, the court having decided in favor of Bashford; and a party in the legislature had endeavored to induce resistance to the court's decision. Mr. Stark, however, refused to countenance this revolutionary movement, and materially aided in preventing a collision. During this session Mr. Stark was appointed chairman of a joint select committee to investigate the conduct of the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement company in failing to meet the obligations incurred in the transfer to it of the congressional grant for the improvement. The matter was most thoroughly inquired into; and, in the report made for the committee by Mr. Stark, the passage of an act was suggested compelling the company to meet its obligations. Such bill was passed at an extra session, and resulted in the satisfactory settlement of the whole matter. Mr. stark proved himself an able and most upright legislator, and to possess the stuff of which statesmen are made. Of the scandals which disgraced that legislature nothing ever came near Mr. Stark. In 1860 Mr. Stark was elected district attorney, and held the office for two years, during which he succeeded in putting an end to a conflict as to jurisdiction between the municipal and circuit courts. Mr. Stark rendered other important service to the public in trials which he conducted, notably one in which he secured a decision from the state supreme court affirming the constitutionality of the act requiring the railroad companies of the state to pay into the state treasury a certain percentage of their gross earnings in lieu of taxes. He undertook the revision and consolidation of the city charter in 1873, a most laborious and difficult work, but it was performed with his accustomed fidelity and the ability which he has ever shown. He has served the public in many other ways. He is, and for years has been, a member of the commission to examine Page 489 candidates for admission to the bar. He is interested in municipal reform, and prepared the bill, passed in 1895, placing the several departments of the municipal government under the civil service rules, and has participated in the administration of that act. He has been engaged in many of the most notable suits in the history of the city and state, and enumeration of them even not being practicable in the limited space at command. No sketch of Mr. Stark's career, however, would be anywhere near complete which omitted to mention his service in the cause of public education. He was first elected member of the board of school commissioners from the Seventh ward, in 1871, but two years later was compelled to resign on account of the pressure of private business. In 1874, however, he was again appointed, and held the office for ten consecutive years, nine of which he was president of the board, having been elected without opposition at every reorganization. He made a most admirable officer, conservative in action and influence, yet alive to the importance of every real improvement in the methods of instruction and the equipments of the school rooms for securing the best and most practical; results. He kept a close and intelligent supervision of the whole work of the schools, yet so genial in manner was he, and so appreciative of all meritorious work, that the teachers were his most devoted friends and admires; and, upon his retirement from the board in 1884, he received many formal expressions of regret from them as well as from the body over which he had so long presided. A public reception and banquet was given him at the Plankinton House by leading educators of the city and state, which was all the more valuable because it was not merely informal and perfunctory, but a spontaneous expression of appreciation of important work well done. In politics Mr. Stark has been nominally a Democrat, but has not always voted the party ticket, but has exercised the privilege of an independent citizen in voting for what seemed to him best calculated to promote the public interest. Mr. Stark was married April 26th, 1855, to Miss Kate Augusta Kissam, a native of New City, and they have two children, a son, Frank G., and a daughter, Kate, married, in 1880, to August E. Inbusch of Milwaukee. Mr. Stark has been a member of Plymouth Congregational church since 1858, and has been more or less prominently identified with its work. KREZ, Conrad, soldier, lawyer and poet, was born in Landau in the Palitinate of Bavaria, a province of the Rhine, in Germany, on the 27th of April, 1828. His father was Jean Baptiste Krez, who was distinguished for having served the cause of Greece under King Otto in the same struggle in which Lord Byron was prominent. He died in that country in 1839. Some years previous to his departure for Greece he had married Henrietta Naas, who bore him two sons, one of whom, Paul, died in Germany. The other, Conrad, received a thorough education, spending some time at each of the universities of Munich and Heidelberg, and was prepared for the profession of the law. Like many of the intelligent and educated young Germans of the time, he was an enthusiastic advocate of a progressive policy on the part of the government, and of more liberal institutions. Holdings these views, it was quite natural that he should have been drawn into the revolutionary movement of 1848, which had for its object the establishment of a constitutional government, embracing all the German states. This brilliant dream of young and enthusiastic Germans failed, disastrously, and many of the most promising young men of Germany were compelled to flee their native country, to its great loss and to the gain of other lands--particularly the United States. There are or were dozens of these men in Milwaukee alone, whose presence has added to the mental and physical vigor of the community and left an Page 490 [image: CONRAD KREZ.] ineffaceable mark upon our institutions. Mr. Krez was one of these. He arrived in New York in January, 1851, where he studied and made himself familiar with our civil and political institutions. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin, setting in Sheboygan, where he was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He rapidly made his way, and was elected district attorney about the time of the breaking out the war. It is greatly to his credit, as it is to thousands of others of our foreign-born citizens, that the love of American institutions prompted the voluntary sacrifice of ease and all that they held dear on the altar of their adopted country. Mr. Krez enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin infantry, on the 18th of August, 1862, and when the regiment had been organized he was commissioned its colonel. The regiment left the state for the Army of the West, March, 16th, 1863, gaining its first introduction to the realities of war at Satartia, in Mississippi. The conflict was of slight importance, and the regiment proceeded on its way to Vicksburg, where it was assigned to Gen. Kimball's provisional division of the Sixteenth corps. It performed, with great credit, the duties incident to a long and laborious siege, and was present at the surrender of the stronghold. After the capitulation, Col. Krez's regiment was ordered to Helena, assigned to Gen. Steele's command, and took part in the capture of Little Rock, which was effected against a superior force by some very creditable military maneuvering. The next service of Col. Krez's regiment was in the famous Red River expedition, in which Gen. Steele's command made an effort to join that of Gen. Banks. In all the movements Col. Krez's command rendered efficient service. After the Red River expedition his regiment was transferred to Gen. Canby's command, and it, with three others, formed part of the Third brigade, Third division of the Thirteenth army corps, and Col. Krez was in command of the brigade. In the siege of Spanish Fort, he, with his command, was, for fourteen days, subjected to a most destructive fire from the rebel forts. On the 9th of April, the Union forces occupied it, and Col. Krez was ordered to McIntosh's Bluff to capture the confederate navy yard there, which he accomplished in most satisfactory manner. His next move was to rejoin Gen. Steele's command, which had been ordered to Brazos Santiago, Texas. From that place the regiment went to Clarksville, thence to Brownsville, where it was mustered out of service, and sent home to Wisconsin. Col. Krez's military service throughout was of the most commendable nature. He never shirked any duty, was always at his post, and in the exercise of his military authority did not require his men to go where he would not. As a commander, he was discreet, energetic and always brave, and he retired from the service with the brevet rank of brigadier-general, as token of the government's appreciation of his services. Immediately upon returning to Sheboygan, he took up again the profession of law, which he followed until he was appointed collector of the port of Milwaukee, which he held until the 27th of November, 1889, some months Page 491 over four years. Upon surrendering this office he began the practice of law in Milwaukee, in which he was engaged until his death, which occurred March 8, 1897. Col. Krez was city attorney of Milwaukee from 1892 to 1894, one of the most serious times in the city's history. During his incumbency of the office great improvements were made or inaugurated--the Sixteenth street viaduct, the city hall, water tunnel, the library and museum building--in regard to all of which his opinions and counsel and his aid in the drafting of the bills and papers therefor were sought, and all were sustained by the courts when their judgment thereon was invoked. He was formerly a Republican, but for many years he had acted with the Democratic party. He was married, in 1852, in New York City, to Addie, daughter of Judge John A. Stemmler, and they have had seven children, three sons and four daughters. One daughter died in 1895. Col. Krez possessed a fine literary taste, and was a poet of far more than ordinary ability, occupying in that regard a position in Germany similar to that of Whittier in this country. BEAN, Irving M., fourth son of Jacob L. and Jane McCollough Bean, was born April 27th, 1838, in the village of Willsborough, Essex county, New York. His father was a man of prominence in business circles in New York; but, seeing large possibilities in the rapidly developing west, he came to Milwaukee in 1840, and for several years was engaged in business enterprises in the embryo city, among them the erection of the American house, on the site of the present Plankinton house, the ownership of which he retained for some years. Subsequently he made his home in Waukesha. He was soon engrossed in large business enterprises, notably the projection and construction of railway lines, of one of which, the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad company, he became president. Possessed of rare foresight [image: IRVING M. BEAN.] in business enterprises and the ability to push them to successful realization, he early came to wield a large influence in the then new country; and his death, which occurred in Waukesha in 1855, was regarded as a public loss. Irving M. Bean's mother was a woman of rare qualities of head and heart, and belonged to a family of unusual literary abilities, the poet, John, G. Saxe, being her cousin. In social and charitable circles she was always prominent and loved for the influence she exerted and the good which she accomplished. Irving Bean's early education was received in Milwaukee, and upon the removal of the family to Waukesha, he entered Carroll College there, pursued the full classical course, and graduated with the degree of A. B. in the summer of 1857. In the fall of that year he entered the law school of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In connection with his law studies he devoted considerable time to general literature and elocution, in which he has attained no little eminence, not in a professional sense, but as a source of recreation for himself and pleasure to his friends. Having completed his law course, he entered the office of Jackson Page 492 & Wilkinson of Poughkeepsie, and was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of New York, after passing an exhaustive examination. Coming to Milwaukee immediately thereafter, he formed a partnership with Calvert C. White for the practice of his profession; but later this partnership was succeeded by one with Enoch Totten, which promised well for future success. Within a few months, however, the war of the rebellion broke upon the country, shattering many a promise of a prosperous career; and both the young lawyers, turning their backs upon law books and clients, soon found themselves in the ranks of the Union army. Young Bean enlisted in the Fifth regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and was made captain of Company F. The regiment was mustered into service on the 24th of July, 1861, and started at once for Washington, where it arrived on the 8th of August, and was assigned to Gen. King's brigade. It was employed for some weeks in the construction of fortifications in and about the capital, and finally was permanently assigned to Gen. Hancock's brigade, in which it was conspicuous for its gallant conduct in the Virginia campaigns, taking part in many of the hard-fought battles of the famous Army of the Potomac. Capt. Bean remained with the regiment until March, 1863, and bore his full share in its active and perilous service. He resigned his commission on March 1st, 1863; and, May 10th, 1864, he was appointed provost marshal of the First district of Wisconsin, with the rank of captain of cavalry. The duties of this difficult and responsible office he discharged with signal ability and fidelity. He had charge of the draft in his district, which involved a very disagreeable and arduous task, yet he conducted it in such a manner as to command the confidence and acquiescence of those most nearly interested, and allay the hostility which the measure naturally provoked. He had the handling of large sums of money, and received the commendation of the war department for the manner in which he administered his trust. He was mustered out of this office in October, 1865, its duties having lapsed by reason of the close of the war. Capt. Bean was elected president of the Forest City bank in 1863, and held the position for three years. It had been his purpose to resume the practice of law, but business interest commanded his time and thoughts for months, and he finally abandoned the idea of following his chosen profession. Since the spring of 1867 he has held the office of president of the Northwestern Iron company, and is also president of the Spring Lake Iron company. Upon the recommendation of the senators from Wisconsin, and without his solicitation, he was, on the 1st of July, 1875, appointed collector of internal revenue for the first district of Wisconsin, a position which he held, with great credit to himself, for nearly nine years. He has always been ardently attached to the Republican party, and to the principles and policy for which it stands. An eloquent and effective speaker, he has rendered the party great service in all its important campaigns, and contributed both by his speeches and his personal influence to the gaining of its most signal victories. It was under his administration as president of the Young Men's Library association, that the project of donating the library to the city was started. Possessing wide and varied culture, of courtly yet genial manners, a delightful companion, he has drawn around him a host of friends, whose character is the best tribute to his worth as a man and his ability and value as a citizen. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Alice H. Blossom, daughter of Levi Blossom, who was for may years one of the prominent business men of Milwaukee. She was an accomplished woman in the best sense of the term, was prominent in charitable work, and gathered about her many friends who deeply mourned her early death, which occurred in 1885. She left two sons and a daughter, who are still residents of the city of their birth. Page 493 BOEPPLER, William, who resides at 426 Jackson street, Milwaukee, is the son of Karl and Catherina, nee Pauly, Boeppler, both of whom are now dead. The family lived at Pferdsfeld, near Kreuznath, Germany. Mr. Boeppler the elder was an architect of prominence, who was noted for a number of fine buildings, including churches, which he erected. A brother and a sister of the father came to the United States in 1860, and settled in Leavenworth, Kansas, where the brother now lives. The sister, Mrs. Schaefer, died there some years ago, and her son, Jacques Schaefer, is the great billiard player, not residing in Chicago. William Boeppler was born at Pferdsfeld, Germany, on the twenty-first of February, 1863. He first attended the public school in his native village; and, at the age of nine years, entered the high school at Sobernheim, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, when he became connected with the gymnasium at Kreuznath. From this he graduated, at the age of seventeen, with the first prize, having received much praise from his teachers. He next went to Leipzig, thence two years later to Bonn, in both of which cities he studied theology, philosophy and music. His own inclination was wholly to the art of music, but his father wished him to become a minister; and he, therefore, studied both at the university and at the conservatory of music, at the latter of which he received instruction from such men as Reinecke, Richter. Langer and Fiedler, and, afterwards in Bonn from Arnold Mendelssohn--grand-nephew of the famous Felix Mendelssohn. Having completed these studies, he passed the examinations for the ministry; and, preaching as a candidate for several years, he was elected pastor of the Evangelical church of Crefeld, a city near the Rhine, of over 100,000 inhabitants. This pastorate he held, with great acceptance, for seven years. His taste, however, was for music, and during his ministry he made use of his musical knowledge in the formation and conducting of a [image: WILLIAM BOEPPLER.] large choir, which not only led in the church service, but gave public concerts, which were received with enthusiasm. At length, in 1894, following his inclination, he gave up the ministry, and determined to devote himself entirely to music. Having always had a longing to see the "new world--the land of the future," he came over to America in December, 1894; and, having recommendations to prominent families in Milwaukee, and knowing the fame of the city as one of the most cultured and music-loving in the United States, he chose it as his future home. Making the acquaintance of several prominent citizens, he began the teaching of music, and soon had a number of pupils both on the piano and in voice-culture. With the help of his friends he organized the a Capella choir, and was at once chosen its conductor. At about the same time he secured the position of musical critic of the Herold, and later, musical editor of the Germania. The a Capella choir, under his direction, in the first year of its existence, gave five successful concerts. He has also established a private singing school for ladies and gentlemen, which has met with Page 494 pronounced success; and he is director of the Lutheran teachers' choir, and of the students' choir of the Theologica College at Wauwatosa. Mr. Boeppler has taken the preliminary steps to becoming a full American citizen, and will no doubt honor the land of his adoption as so many of his countrymen have done. He is a member of the now famous Deutscher club. In July, 1896, he made a trip to Germany, where he spent some three months, principally at Wiesbaden, but visited Paris and Rhineland. He was married in the summer of 1896 to Ida Brueggemann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Brueggemann of Wiesbaden, Germany. Her grandfather, Hofrath Brueggemann, was the founder and first president of the Aachen- Muenchen Fire Insurance company, believed to be the first fire insurance company organized in the world, at any rate, one of the very largest. WALL, Edward Clarence, of whom more has been written and spoken than of almost any other man in the state, was born in Milwaukee, on the 11th of August, 1843, in the old Milwaukee house, that then stood on the corner of Wisconsin street and Broadway. His father, Caleb Wall, was a native of Baltimore, Md., and, after coming to Milwaukee, did a general commission business, was an auctioneer of note, was prominent in business circles, a progressive and very useful member of the board of aldermen, and an active, public-spirited citizen, who stamped his individuality upon everything with which he had to do. E. C. Wall's mother, whose maiden name was Julia Maria Whitney, was a native of Vermont, and a worthy and accomplished woman. E. C. Wall attended the local schools when a boy, and later attended a school in Stockbridge, Mass. Returning to Wisconsin he finished his education at Racine College, and, in 1861, entered his father's store as a clerk. In 1866 he was admitted to a partnership, and, upon the death of his father, in 1867, young Wall succeeded to the management of the business. In 1877 the firm of Wall & Bigelow was formed, which, for years, did an extensive grain commission and forwarding business, and became favorably known in business circles throughout the northwest. Mr. Wall has accumulated some property, and at present is engaged in looking after his investments. He is a member of the Milwaukee, the Country and the Deutscher clubs, and the Metropolitan club of Washington, and is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Wall was married, in 1878, to Anna Louisa Hearding, and they have one child, Alexander Wall, born in May, 1879, who is now attending St. Mark's school in Southboro, Mass., preparing for Harvard University. In politics, Mr. Wall is a Democrat, although his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln for president. In 1876 he made his first appearance in national politics, when he was made chairman of the Young Men's Tilden and Hendricks club. In 1874 he was elected to represent the First ward in the common council, and re-elected at the expiration of his first term. He served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents, but resigned in the fall of 1876. He was elected to the assembly as a hard money Democrat in 1877, receiving 691 votes, against 505 cast for Carl Doerflinger, Republican, and 30 for Geo. B. Goodwin, the Greenback candidate. He was re-elected the following year by a vote of 735 to 714 for Wm. P. McLaren, Republican. His legislative career gave him prominence in his party, and, in 1878, he was chosen a member of the Democratic state central committee and made its treasurer, a position which he held until 1885, when he resigned it. In 1885 he received the appointment of United States collector of internal revenue for the Milwaukee district, in the discharge of the duties of which he showed signal executive ability. It was, however, in January, Page 495 1890, that his real political career began, when he was chosen chairman of the Democratic state central committee, to fill an unexpired term, and his administration of the duties of that post was endorsed by each succeeding state convention until 1896, when he declined further re- election. His greatest work as chairman was done in the campaign of 1890, and during the session of the legislature following. His party was triumphant in the election of 1890, the year in which the leading question was that of the Bennett compulsory education law. Of the merits of this question this is not the place to speak; suffice it to say that the campaign was managed with great skill from a political point of view. As the large Democratic majority returned to the legislature were new men and new to the business of law-making, Mr. Wall feared that the fruit of the hard-earned victory of his party might be lost through crude or unwise laws, and he deemed it his duty therefore, as chairman of the state central committee, to exercise a sort of supervision over legislation, particularly in the lower house; and never was his ability as a controller of men more conspicuously displayed than in that legislative session. There is little doubt that his watchful care in this respect was of especial benefit to his party, and that he contributed greatly to the prolongation of the control which it had unexpectedly obtained in this state. The practical effect of the work of party leaders in political battles is often over- estimated, but it is doubtful if any one has ever directed campaigns with more sagacity or exercised a wider or more complete influence over the men directly associated with him than Mr. Wall. He is a born political leader. Fertile in resources, quick and untiring in action, daring in his plans and no less daring in their execution, his retirement from the leadership of his party in this state is a loss from which it will not soon recover, and a fitting successor for whom it will be difficult to find. He has received his full share of criticism, as have all persons of positive and aggressive character [image: EDWARD CLARENCE WALL.] who have occupied positions of public leadership, but he has accepted it with an equanimity bordering on indifference, doubtless realizing that it is, in one sense, a tribute to his ability and the effectiveness of his political strategy. In January, 1892, he was appointed by the national Democratic committee one of its members, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. John L. Mitchell; and, when the national convention assembled in that year, he was elected a member of that committee by the Wisconsin delegation for the full term of four years. He was later appointed, by the chairman of the national committee, one of the committee of nine to manage the campaign; and, when subsequently the western division of that committee was organized, with headquarters at Chicago, the management of it was placed in the hands of Hon. Ben. T. Cable of Illinois, Hon. Don M. Dickinson of Michigan and Mr. Wall of Wisconsin. During the campaign Mr. Wall filled the positions of chairman of the state committee, member of the national committee, the campaign committee of nine and the western Page 496 subcommittee of three. At the meeting of the national committee in January, 1896, Mr. Wall was appointed member of the committee of nine which was given full power to arrange all of the preliminaries for the convention held in Chicago in July, 1896. At that convention he was re- elected a member of the national committee for the full term of four years. Personally, he is genial and courteous, and, for one who for so many years waged a sharp political warfare, he has many and ardent friends, who, whatever may be his future career, will long remember his brilliant service to his party, and his genial companionship as a co- laborer and leader. KEYES, Elisha W., for the past forty-seven years a resident of Madison, and during the greater portion of that time one of the most potent forces that has ever contributed to the shaping of the politics of the state, was born in Northfield, Washington county. Vt., January 23rd, 1828. He is the third son of Captain Joseph Keyes, who was one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin territory, having come hither as a prospector in 1836, his family following the succeeding spring. As showing what a journey from New England to Wisconsin meant in those days it may be stated that Mr. Keyes' family left Northfield, Vt., on the 2nd of May, 1837, proceeding, by wagon, to Burlington, thence, by steamboat, to Whitehall, thence, by canal, to Utica, from which they went by stage to Binghamton, N. Y., where they were met by Capt. Keyes, and where they remained for a few days. Thence they proceeded to Buffalo, where they embarked on Lake Erie for Detroit, from which place they came by land to Milwaukee, arriving June 17th, 1837. Here the family occupied, during the summer, a house previously erected by Capt. Keyes, and here young Keyes, then in his tenth year, attended a select school kept, in the old court house, by Eli Bates, who afterwards became prominent in business circles in the city. In September following the family removed to the township of Lake Mills, Jefferson county, where Capt. Keyes had made a land claim the year previous. At the time of their arrival there was but one other family in the township. A log house was soon constructed, which sheltered the family for a number of years. Capt. Keyes built the first school-house in the township, at his own expense, and hired a teacher, who was Miss Rosy Catlin, afterwards the wife of La Fayette Kellogg of Madison. This school was first opened in Aztalan, two miles and a half distant, taught by Mrs. J. F. Ostrander. The next winter the school system of the territory was organized and school was held in the new village of Lake Mills. All of these schools were attended, in turn, by young Keyes, and his education was mainly received in the common schools, although he attended several terms later at Beloit Seminary. Previous to 1843, Capt. Keyes had constructed a saw mill and grist mill at Lake Mills, but in this year he made a sale of the same, reserving land for a large farm adjoining the village plat now known as the Phillips farm, to which the family removed, and where, until the year 1849, the subject of this sketch was engaged in breaking up the land and in fencing the same, and in general farm duties. It was his ambition to devote his life work to the business of farming, but at this time there were no railroads in the country and there was a very poor market for every product of the farm. Mr. Keyes, as a boy, frequently drew wheat to Milwaukee, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel; butter and cheese where not worth over six or seven cents a pound, and pork and beef in about the same proportion. Farming ws decidedly unprofitable, and Capt. Keyes, who, for a few years, had left the farm fully in charge of his son, E. W. Keyes, and had built a saw mill and grist mill, and started the new village of Cambridge in Dane county, became discouraged at the prospect, and the Cambridge venture having proved a failure, he was necessitated to sell out his farm in Lake Mills, and did so in the year Page 497 1849, removing thence to Menasha. It was with great reluctance that Mr. Keyes and his mother, who had had charge of the farm almost from its commencement, consent to its sale, and were only induced to do so on account of the poor prospects of profit on the farm. This was the turning point in Mr. Keyes' life. Up to this time he thought farming would be his life work. In the spring and summer of 1850 he again attended Beloit Seminary, and, in December of that year, went to Madison, and on the sixth day of that month, was entered as a student at law in the office of Collins & Smith, the firm being composed of A. L. Collins, afterwards judge of the circuit, and George B. Smith, subsequently attorney-general of the state. Before this he had devoted some little time to reading law, and on the 17th of October, 1851, he was admitted to the bar of Dane county, and at once entered upon practice in a small way. In the spring of 1852 he was appointed special agent of the post-office department by Postmaster-General N. K. Hall, under Filmore's administrator, a position which he filled for several months. His duty was to collect money from postmasters by drafts drawn in his favor by the postmaster- general, and to deposit the money so collected in the sub-treasury at St. Louis. These collections were made principally in Illinois and Wisconsin; the travel was almost wholly by stage, although the trips to St. Louis were made mostly by steamboat. After this employment was finished, and the business closed up, Mr. Keyes opened an office and more especially devoted himself to the business of his profession. In 1853 he was offered a partnership in the firm with which he had studied law, and the firm of Collins, Smith & Keyes continued until January 1st, 1855, when the senior partner, Mr. collins, having been elected to the bench of the circuit court, the firm was dissolved, and was succeeded by that of Smith & Keyes. From that period until 1862, when the firm of Smith & Keyes was dissolved by mutual consent, it did a very [image: ELISHA W. KEYES.] large business--by far the largest business in Dane county, or in the interior of the state. For a number of years Mr. Keyes was a member of the law firm of Orton, Keyes & Chynoweth, which was dissolved by the election of Judge Orton associate justice of the supreme court. During the years 1859 and 1860 he was district attorney of Dane county, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1858. Up to the time of the organization of the Republican party, in which Mr. Keyes participated, he had always been a Whig in politics. In April, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln postmaster at Madison, and was re- appointed by Presidents Johnson, Grant and Hayes, serving continuously in that office for over twenty-one years. In 1865 he was elected the first Republican mayor of Madison, and was re-elected without opposition in 1866. In 1877 he was appointed a regent of the University of Wisconsin, which position he held for twelve years. He was elected to and served in the legislative assembly in 1882, and was again re- elected mayor of Madison in 1886. Mr. Keyes had been active in politics, Page 498 strongly supporting the war and the suppression of the rebellion, had been a member of the Republican state central committee several years, when in 1868, he was appointed by the convention chairman of the committee serving as such ten years. Mr. Keyes was a delegate to the Republican national convention, which met in Philadelphia, in 1872, to the Cincinnati convention in 1876, and to the Chicago convention in 1884, and was chairman of the Wisconsin delegation in all of them. At these last two conventions, he was a strong supporter of the nomination of Mr. Blaine for the presidency. In 1879 there was a memorable senatorial contest in Wisconsin. The candidates were T. O. Howe, the incumbent; Matt. H. Carpenter, who had been defeated for the place in 1875 by Angus Cameron, and Mr. Keyes, who was very strongly supported by members and many Republicans of the state. For over one hundred ballots of this triangular contest he was in the lead, receiving as high as thirty-three votes in caucus. Finally he withdrew from the contest, and his friend, Matt. H. Carpenter, was nominated by acclamation, and duly elected by the legislature. In 1881 he was again a candidate, and his opponent was the Hon. Philetus Sawyer. It was thought when the campaign first opened that Mr. Keyes would be elected without much serious opposition; the party organization was strong for him, and he was supported by a large majority of the Republican press of the state, but the forces allied against him compassed his defeat. In this last contest he received thirty-three legislative votes. In 1871 Mr. Keyes was appointed attorney by the secretary of war to represent the United States in the arbitration between the government and the Green Bay & Mississippi Canal company. The arbitrators were Hon. Paul Dillingham of Vermont, ex-Gov. William Larabee of Iowa, and ex-United States Senator James R. Doolittle of Wisconsin, the latter having been selected by the Canal company, Mr. Larabee by the government and Mr. Dillingham having been selected by the other two arbitrators. This was a very important matter to the government and to the people of the state. It consumed a good part of the summer of 1871, the board of arbitration going over the whole route from Green Bay up the Fox to the Wisconsin, and down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, afterwards holding session in the federal court house in Madison, where testimony was taken in the case, and the award of the arbitrators finally made. The claim was made by the attorneys for the Canal company that the water route and its improvements were worth all they cost, and that for the work the government should pay that much, amounting to about two millions of dollars. Mr. Keyes made the startling claim that the improvement was not worth anything, and that therefore the award should be for the smallest sum possible, and it was made for so small an amount that for a time the company refused to accept it. Congress finally appropriated about one hundred and forty-five thousand dollars and succeeded to the interests of the Canal company in this line of water communication. The people of the state were very anxious that the government should come into possession of the works, and they knew that a transfer would not be made unless the award was found to be a reasonable one; therefore the effort was put forth to bring the award down so low that it would not be objectionable to congress. Great credit was given to Mr. Keyes for his management of the case from beginning to end. After Mr. Keyes' defeat for senator in 1881, he retired from active politics, in the main devoting himself to the practice of law and to real estate transactions. In February, 1889, he was appointed by Gov. Hoard municipal judge of Dane county to fill a vacancy, and was elected to that position by the people of the county in April of that year, serving out the unexpired time of Judge A. B. Braley, which terminal January 1st, 1883. Mr. Keyes was first married in the city of New York, in May, 1854, to Miss Caroline Page 499 Stevens, who died in 1865, leaving him three children, two sons, Joseph S. and Elisha W., and a daughter, Catherine. In 1867 he was married to Mrs. Louise Sholes, by whom he had one son, Louis R. This union was dissolved by the courts, and in 1888 he was married to Mrs. Eliza M. Reeves, with whom he now lives. A man of marked ability, of pronounced views upon all public questions, of indomitable will and unfaltering courage and perseverance in the pursuit of whatever he undertakes, Mr. Keyes has long been a conspicuous figure in public affairs, and a useful and worthy citizen. Although brusque in manner and often sharp of speech, he has a kind heart and an ear ever open to the voice of the suffering. LADD, Dr. George D., has lived in Milwaukee the greater part of his life, at first on the south side and later on the east side. He was born October 7, 1850, in Woodstock, Vermont, and came to Milwaukee when he was six years of age. His general education was acquired in the Milwaukee public schools and at Markham's academy. The study of medicine was taken up by Dr. Ladd in 1871, with Dr. Moses Bartlett. He was afterwards a medical student in the office of Dr. Solon Marks, one of the most prominent of Wisconsin physicians, and later he was in partnership with this veteran practitioner. The time of Dr. Ladd is taken up now almost wholly with surgical cases. He is frequently called to points in Wisconsin for operations or consultations, and is the surgeon at St. Mary's hospital at North Point. Dr. Ladd is now, and has been since it formation, the medical examiner for the fire and police commission. He belongs to the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, and in 1890 was president of that organization. He is also a director of the Wisconsin Humane society. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway has had him upon its surgical staff for many years. Dr. Ladd has never been abroad, believing that [image: DR. GEORGE D. LADD.] by close study he can acquire almost as much knowledge of his profession at home as abroad, with the aid of the foreign and American publications. He is a graduate of Rush Medical College in Chicago having completed his course there February 17, 1875. On November 10, 1885, Dr. Ladd was married to Miss Annette Dutcher, daughter of the late John A. Dutcher. She died a few years ago, leaving one child. Dr. Ladd resides in the old Dutcher homestead at 460 Marshall street. SWAN, Dr. George Elbridge, is one of the most prominent physicians of Dodge county, and his "life history is interwoven with incidents which make interesting reading. It is the history of early struggles, conscientious beginning and ultimate triumph. In recounting these incidents from the first step at the bottom of the hill to the present prominent position to which he has attained, an illustration is given of what pluck and push will accomplish in attaining the desired goal." Dr. Swan, whose residence is in Beaver Dam, was born in Eden, Erie county, N. Y., April Page 500 [image: DR. GEORGE ELBRIDGE SWAN.] 6th, 1838, the son of Alfred Swan, a farmer in limited circumstances. His mother was Polly Benedict before marriage, the daughter of Trowbridge Benedict, the sixth in direct descent from Thomas Benedict, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1617, an extensive genealogy of whose family comprises many persons of note--a work the doctor prizes very highly. Alfred Swan's mother's maiden name was Alger, and her brother's son in Gen. Alger, ex-governor of Michigan and secretary of war in President McKinley's cabinet. Alfred Swan had a first cousin whose name was Charles Grandison Swan, who was a noted divine and revivalist, known throughout the east. According to a tradition which the doctor has preserved, "there young men (brothers) left Scotland more than two hundred and fifty years ago for America. They landed near Boston, where one remained, while the other two went west--one to Connecticut, near Danbury, the other to New York, near Schenectady. The country, of course, was new, and the branches emanating lost all trace of each other. The New York man married a Welsh woman, so about nine generations back the doctor was Scotch and Welsh on his mothers' side and English on his father's. In 1864 the doctor met in Boston a James Swan, principal of public schools in Charlestown, and also a brother Janes Swan, cashier of a bank in Boston, and was much gratified to hear them repeat the same tradition they had obtained though their line, which they claimed was the Boston branch." The incident was certainly very amusing, unusual and corroborative, and deserves preservation in this publication. Five months before the doctor's birth, his father lost his hotel, at Erie, by fire, and as there was no insurance it was a total loss. Other losses followed until his property, amounting to $25,000, was entirely swept away, leaving him penniless with a wife and three sons. The family moved to Ohio, finally making their home at Greenfield, where a number of years were spent, during which the boy, George, attended such schools as the town afforded, displaying unusual aptness in his studies, and possessing a studious and reflective disposition. At eleven years of age he received first prize in a class of one hundred pupils for a composition upon the vices of youth. After his, the family removing to the forests of Michigan, the boy's time was spent, until he was seventeen years old, in assisting his father to clear a new farm in the town of Cohocta. The boy, now at the age of seventeen, was urgent in his desire for more education, but his father refusing to accede to this request, he declared his independence, and turned his back upon the parental roof, going forth without money, friendless and alone. His father had many relatives at Dale, N. Y., so thither he went, and attended the Wyoming Academy, under Prof. Weed, passed an examination for a teacher's certificate, and taught school the following winter, being then eighteen years of age. After that he worked at farming until 1857, when he entered Hillsdale College, Michigan, in which institution he was a student until 1860, securing the Page 501 money for his expenses by teaching winters and doing odd jobs and working for farmers during vacations. Leaving the college, he obtained, through the influence of his uncle, Rev. W. S. Lunt of Fremont, Ohio, a position as teacher in the Union school of that place. A year after he went to Owosso, Mich., and began the study of medicine with Dr. Bagg of that place, and afterward continued it with Dr. Lodge of Detroit. During the winter of 1864-5 he attended lectures in the University of Michigan. The six months following he practiced medicine at Novi, Mich., with the proceeds of which he was enabled to attend medical lectures the following winter at the Homeopathic Medical College in New York City, and graduated therefrom February 28th, 1866. He then practiced in Richmond and Newcastle, Ind., and, in 1867, removed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he married Miss Marry Woodbridge. In 1870 he was in practice at Norwalk, Ohio, and the following year located at South Bend. Ind.; but the climate not agreeing with his wife, he removed to Beaver Dam, Wis., and succeeded, May 19th, 1876, to the practice of Dr. Thurber, nearly all of which he was successful in retaining. Meantime he invented and manufactured several specifies which have had and still have a wide sale in all the states of the Union. He is also the inventor of a device for the promotion of ease and rapidity in walking, which consists of a little spring imbedded in the boot heel, and which promises to become very popular with pedestrians. Through the investment of some $50,000 in the improvement of Vita Spring park, the doctor has done much to advertise Beaver Dam as a summer resort and to promote its business interests. Politically he is a Republican, has been mayor of Beaver Dam, and society is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Dr. Swan's family consists of a wife and one son, George B., now nineteen years old, who will graduate next year from the Shattuck school at Faribault, Minn. [image: CHARLES M. COTTRILL.] COTTRILL, Charles M., who has been closely identified with the transportation business of Milwaukee for many years, and is one of the most prominent Masons in the state, was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on the 20th of October, 1834. His youth was passed in Montpelier, where he received a good common school and academic education, and where he was fitted for a business life. In the fall of 1854 he came west to Oshkosh, where he had previously spent a year, as a clerk, and where he again entered a general store in a clerical capacity, and remained two years. He then engaged in the lumber business on his own account, but in 1858 sold out, and, coming to Milwaukee, accepted a situation as book-keeper in a wholesale dry goods house. Resigning this position in 1860, he became connected with the lake transportation business, and has retained his connection therewith ever since. Mr. Cottrill has been a member of the Merchant's association for many years, and served as its president for the three years 1891-2-3. He has been active not only in that organization, but in others, in support of whatever Page 502 would promote the public welfare and the material interests of the city. He was one of the most energetic and enthusiastic members of the Advancement association, and the various measures which is set on foot for spreading the fame of the city and enlarging its industrial enterprises received his cordial and helpful advocacy. In securing the location of the state fair at Milwaukee, he rendered a valuable service to Milwaukee, and to his labors was due, in large measure, the success of the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in Milwaukee in 1889. He was one of the founders of the exposition, and has given freely of his time, means and business knowledge to secure the success which has always attended the enterprise. In recognition of his unselfish and efficient labors in this direction he was unanimously elected president of the company in 1888, but declined the honor on account of business engagements. Mr. Cottrill has been an enthusiastic Mason since taking his first degree in Milwaukee in 1867. Only two months after joining he was made a Master Mason in Independence Lodge; and since then he has been one of the most active members of the order, and one of those most thoroughly versed in its literature and traditions. During the year 1880 he was eminent commander of Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1. Ten years later he became a member of Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 24, and was its commander in 1892. He was made a thirty-third degree Mason in 1883. In Wisconsin Grand Lodge of Perfection he was grand master of ceremonies from 1871 to 1876, and thrice potent grand master, from 1877 to 1886. In Wisconsin Council of Princes of Jerusalem he was senior grand warden from 1874 to 1882. In Wisconsin Chapter of Rose Croix he was master of ceremonies from 1871 to 1882, and grand orator in 1883. In Wisconsin Consistory he has been grand master of ceremonies, and was commander- in-chief for five years and later re-elected for three years; he was also trustee of the consistory from 1886 to 1891. He became an honorary member of the supreme council in 1883, and an active member in 1884, and is now deputy for the state of Wisconsin and one of the three active members of the council. This is a list of honors reached by very few in the Masonic order, yet that he has deserved them all is attested by those who are familiar with the zealous work which he has done for the upbuilding of this ancient order, the elevation of its membership and the promotion of its charitable and philanthropic work. He was elected first vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce at the election on April 5th, 1897. Mr. Cottrill was married at La Fayette, Indiana, December 31st, 1860, to Lettie E. Sharp, and they have one son, twenty-seven years old, who is cashier for the Goll & Frank company of Milwaukee, NOYES, George Henry, whose residence is at No. 204 Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, is one of the many strong and accomplished members of the Milwaukee bar. The family is of Norman origin. Rev. James Noyes was educated at Oxford, entered the ministry, and, on account of his tendency toward liberal views, was an exile in Holland, whence, in 1634, he came to America, settling at Newbury, Mass. His son, Rev. James Noyes, graduated from Harvard College in 1659, and settled in Stonington, Conn., where he was pastor of the First Congregational church for fifty-five years. He served in King Philip's war as physician and chaplain, and was one of the founders and first trustees of Yale College. Through Col. Peleg Noyes, who served in the revolutionary war in a Connecticut regiment, Geo H. Noyes derives his right to membership in the "Sons of the American Revolution." Geo. H. Noyes was born in McLean, Tompkins county, N.Y., April 18th, 1849, and, in 1855, came with his parents to Wisconsin, Page 503 settling at Delafield, Waukesha county. His education was received in the common school and the University of Wisconsin. He graduate with honors from the latter in the classical course in 1873, and from the law department in 1874. He supported himself during his university course by teaching and by manual labor in vacations. He was the assistant university librarian while in college, and during his law course assistant state librarian. Upon his graduation from the law school and his admission to the bar, he came to Milwaukee with ex-Chief Justice Dixon, who had resigned from the supreme court with the purpose of establishing himself in the practice of law, and entered the office of Dixon, Hooker & Palmer. At the end of a year the firm of Dixon, Hooker, Wegg & Noyes was organized, the members of which were L.S. Dixon, D.G. Hooker, David S. Wegg and George H. Noyes. This firm continued until Mr. Hooker became sole counsel for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Mr. Noyes continuing in partnership with Judge Dixon, first under the firm name of Dixon & Noyes and afterward under that of Dixon, Noyes & Dixon- -the junior member being a son of the senior. Judge Dixon's health failing, he removed to Denver, and the firm was dissolved. Mr. Noyes then formed a partnership with Geo. C. Markham, under the firm name of Markham & Noyes, which continued until April, 1887, when Mr. Noyes was elected, on the Citizens' ticket, judge of the newly created superior court of Milwaukee county, taking his seat January 1st, 1888. In march, 1890, he resigned the judgeship, desiring to provide more liberally for the education of his children than the salary of his judicial position would permit. Judicial work is suited to his tastes and temperament. That he is well adapted for it is shown by the fact that while on the bench of the superior court only seven decisions of his were reversed on appeal by the supreme court. While in partnership with Mr. Markham he acted as general solicitor and secretary of the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad [image: GEORGE HENRY NOYES.] company. Upon retiring from the bench the firm of Miller, Noyes & Miller, now Miller, Noyes, Miller & Wahl, was organized. In politics Mr. Noyes is a Republican, but not a partisan nor desirous of office. He was appointed a regent of the University of Wisconsin by Gov. Hoard, in 1890, reappointed by Gov. Peck and by Gov. Upham, and is now vice-president of the board. He is also one of the commissioners having in charge the erection of the building for the library of the State Historical, Country, Golf, Old Settlers' and Bankers' clubs, the American, State and County Bar associations, and president of the state society Sons of the American Revolution. He was for several years a member of the Board of trustees of the Emergency hospital, and of the committee in charge of Forest Home cemetery. He attends St. Paul's Episcopal church. Judge Noyes was married in November, 1876, to Miss Agnes Allis Haskell of Chicago, a graduate of the Wisconsin University, class of 1876. Their children are: Emily, Katherine, Haskell, Margaret and Helen. Page 504 [image: WILLIAM BERGENTHAL.] BERGENTHAL, William, for many years a representative man in the distilling business, was born in Wesphalia, Germany, in 1844, and became a resident of Milwaukee in 1867. In 1869 he engaged in the distilling business with his brother, under the firm name of Bergenthal & Brother. The business prospered, and in 1873 the partnership was succeeded by a corporation, the William Bergenthal company, with William Bergenthal as president; A. M. Grau, vice-president, and August Bergenthal, secretary. Mr. Bergenthal has ever since remained at the head of this company, which for a number of years operated what was known as the Meadow Spring distillery, on the Milwaukee river north of the city. This plant was destroyed by fire in 1882 and was not rebuilt, the company erecting instead a new and much larger distillery in the Menomonee valley. The city offices and warehouse have for many years been at 476 and 478 Fourth street. Mr. Bergenthal has been a pillar of the Democratic party, although he did not subscribe to the free silver doctrines which dominated the party in 1896. He was elected a delegate to the convention that nominated William Jennings Bryan for president, the Democrats of the Fourth congressional district sending him as a representative sound money man. This was his most prominent participation in politics, as he has never been an office-seeker, preferring to content himself with the effort to secure the election of other good citizens to positions of public trust. Mr. Bergenthal has always enjoyed high standing as a business man, and few names in the liquor trade of the west are better known. He was married in 1874 to Miss Anna M. Grau. CHESTER, William, pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian church, Milwaukee, is the great-grandson of Col. John Chester of Weathersfield, Connecticut, who gave a large part of his fortune for the equipping of volunteers in the revolutionary war, was intimate with Washington, supported the stricken Gen. Warren on the historic field of Bunker Hill, receiving his dying words, and served with rare distinction in the revolutionary struggle. He was also speaker of the lower house of the Connecticut legislature, judge of the probate and county court, and member of the board of supervisors. Through his great-grandfather, Rev. William Chester is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, which was organized by Washington and composed of the eldest male descendants of officers of the revolutionary army. He is the grandson of Rev. William Chester, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa., who for thirty-three years was general agent, associate secretary, and corresponding secretary of the board of education of the Presbyterian church. He is the son of Rev. John Chester, D. D., of Washington, D. C., who for thirty years was pastor of the Metropolitan Presbyterian church of that city. Rev. William Chester, the subject of this sketch, was born in Burlington, N. J., on the 26th of November, 1863, and received his early education in the public schools of the capital. After preparation for college, he entered upon a full classical course in Princeton University, Page 505 New Jersey, and graduated therefrom, on the roll of honor, in 1884, taking the science and religion prize of his class. He next entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and while in the second year of his theological course he received a call to become the assistant pastor of Phillips Presbyterian church, corner of Madison avenue and Seventy-third street, New York City; and, after graduation, he was made associate pastor of the same, with Rev. S. D. Alexander, D. D. In October, 1889, he received and accepted a unanimous call from Immanuel Presbyterian church of Milwaukee; and, during this pastorate of more than seven years, there has been abundant evidence of progress and prosperity in the various departments of the church work. The remnants of debt under which the society was laboring have been entirely lifted, material improvements in the building made, two new branch churches, Bethany and Westminster, have been built, principally through the contributions of Immanuel, and over five hundred new members secured. Mr. Chester has traveled extensively in Europe and the Orient, and brought back the results of his observation and study in a series of illustrated lectures which have been given and repeated with great success in courses in Immanuel church. In 1896 he was selected by the general assembly to be one of the principal delegates to represent the Presbyterian church in the United States at the sixth general council of the alliance of the reformed churches throughout the world holding the Presbyterian system, which is to meet in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1897. Mr. Chester was married, in 1887, to Miss Cushing of Washington, D. C., who died suddenly in Italy while on the wedding journey. In 1890 he was married to Mrs. Marion Merrill Smith, daughter of the late S. S. Merrill, long general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. By this marriage there are two children, William Merrill Chester and Norman Merrill Chester. Though a young man of but twenty-six [image: WILLIAM CHESTER.] years when he entered upon the pastorate of Immanuel, one of the largest Protestant churches in the state, he has shown himself fully equal to the weighty and responsible duties of his position. A man fully in sympathy with all the great social, moral, religious and educational progress of the times, yet wisely discriminating between what is real and what is false progress; scholarly and eloquent in speech and impressive in manner, he is one of the foremost preachers in the state, and one before who there is a useful and brilliant future. RYAN, Michael, W., is of Irish ancestry, but was born in Burlington, Vermont, on the 10th of December, 1847. His parents were Stephen and Elizabeth Gillick Ryan, the former of whom died in 1850. Mrs. Ryan, two years later, married Michael Gerrety, and the family came to Milwaukee in 1852, where Mr. Gerrety opened a store on the corner of Huron and Van Buren streets. In 1857 the family removed to Waukesha, and there Mrs. Gerrety still resides. The boy Michael's first schooling was received in the Third ward Page 506 [image: MICHAEL W. RYAN.] public school of Milwaukee. After that he was at school in Waukesha, which was his home until 1866, when he went to Oshkosh, where he worked in the mills and in the pineries for seventeen years, always occupying responsible positions, such as head sawyer, foreman or superintendent. He was in Oshkosh some years, and went to Medford in July, 1874, where he continued working at lumbering until 1880, when he built the Exchange hotel in Medford. In 1885 he sold the hotel, and in the same year was appointed postmaster, in which position he served nearly five years when he was succeeded by E. L. Urquhart in 1890. Mr. Ryan's popularity among his neighbors is attested by the fact that after the return of the Democratic party to power, he was reappointed, and is at present discharging the duties of the office. Mr. Ryan enlisted in the Union army in 1863, but the board of medical examiners rejected him. Some months after he went south and again enlisted. This time he passed and was assigned to the Third regiment of Wisconsin cavalry, and was in all battles and skirmishes of his battalion from that time until the close of the war. Since the war he has been active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republican, having been commandant of the James Shields Post, No. 145, Department of Wisconsin, and representative for the Ninth congressional district to the national encampment at St. Paul, in 1896. In politics Mr. Ryan is a steadfast Democrat of the old school, having been in the presidential campaign of 1896 an advocate of sound money, or the gold standard. He was a delegate to the Democratic state conventions in 1890, 1894 and 1896. He has held the offices of town treasurer, under-sheriff, county treasurer, alderman, postmaster, as already stated, under two Democratic and administrations, and was postmaster of the state senate in 1893. He was married April 8th, 1872, to Mary E. Magner of Waukesha, and they have three children. Mr. Ryan is a member of the Medford Advancement association, and is also a member of the Medford Lodge, No. 217, F. & A. M., and Medford Chapter, No. 70, R. A. M. REEVE, James Theodore, M. D., of Appleton, for many years prominent as a physician, and as secretary and executive officer of the state board of health, was born in Walkill, Orange county, N. Y., April 26th, 1834. His father was Daniel Reeve, a farmer; and his mother's maiden name was Mary Valentine. Both parents were from highly esteemed families and were possessed of sterling characters. His father was a man of local prominence, but died when James was only six years of age. After his father's death his mother moved to Goshen, in the same county, where his boyhood was thenceforth spent. He received his education in the common schools and in Farmers' Hall Academy, in Orange county, then the best institute of learning in that vicinity. His medical studies were pursued under the direction of Dr. G. P. Reevs of Page 507 Goshen, and his medical degree was taken at the Castleton Medical College, Vermont, but he subsequently took another course of lectures in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he also graduated. His first settlement as a physician was at De Pere, Wis., but he removed to a larger field at Green Bay in 1860, and from that place he entered the army in September, 1861, as second assistant surgeon of the Tenth Wisconsin regiment. This regiment was in no general engagement during the time that Dr. Reeve was with it, but it participated in the daring raid of Gen. O. M. Mitchell, which resulted in the capture of Huntsville, Ala., in April, 1862. Dr. Reeve remained with until July, 1862, when he returned to Wisconsin on business for the regiment, and while at home was transferred to the Twenty-first Wisconsin regiment, then just organized at Oshkosh, as first assistant surgeon, and in the following November became surgeon of that regiment, remaining in that connection until the close of the war. The Twenty- first was prematurely hurried to the field in September and placed on guard duty opposite Louisville. The Tenth regiment, by a retrogade movement, had arrived at the same place, and as fortune would have it the two regiments were put into the same division, and together they had their first taste of real battle at Perryville, Ky., October 8th. The Twenty-first had then been only thirty-four days in service, nearly every one of which had been days of active marching or of work in the trenches. Of the drill of soldiers or the management of troops it knew almost nothing--it was without regimental colors, was supplied with arms of the poorest quality, was exhausted from hard day's work in guarding wagon trains, yet it was put in the forefront of the battle, in advance even of the main line, where in about two hours it lost in killed and wounded one hundred and forty-three men. The Tenth lost as heavily. Dr. Reeve was at once assigned to hospital duty, and received in connection therewith special honorable mention for faithfulness of service. [image: JAMES THEODORE REEVE.] On being relieved from this duty he rejoined his regiment and was with it in a sharp skirmish with rebel cavalry at Jefferson Pike, December 30th. The next day, December 31st, 1862, the bloody battle of Stone River began. The Twenty-first was actively engaged and Dr. Reeve was again assigned to hospital duty in one of the field hospitals close in rear of the troops. Here he remained for several weeks, and from this time on he was frequently absent from his regiment, being detailed for hospital duty in various places. At Chickamauga, September 19th, 1863, Dr. Reeve was given charge of a hospital which it afterwards became apparent must fall into the hands of the enemy, and with this in prospect, and with his consent, he was detailed by the medical director to remain and be captured with the hospital. There was time for only a few hurried lines explaining the situation before the troops retreated past the hospital, and for a time it was between the two armies and in danger from the fire of both. At night, however, the wavering lines of rebels fell back and the hospital was again within the Union lines. During the night and early morning all the Page 508 wounded were removed, but the last of this was not finished until after all our troops had retreated and the rebels were close at had, Dr. Reeve being the last man to leave the hospital. Later in the day the doctor established a new hospital, and with it was captured on the following morning and taken to Libby prison, from which he was released by exchange in the November following. Returning to his regiment, which was then at Lookout Mountain, Tenn., he was assigned to take charge of the brigade hospital, but on the forward movement of the army he rejoined his regiment and was with it in various engagements, among them Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, "with Sherman to the Sea," the siege of Savannah, and later at Averysboro and Bentonville. During the latter part of the war Dr. Reeve was promoted to the position of brigade surgeon, and at the close of the war he had been again promoted and was acting chief surgeon of the division. Among his most cherished relics of the army is the order of his commanding general--which was not given until almost the last possible moment-- releasing him from this position that he might be mustered out with his regiment at the close of the war. This order reads as follows: "Surgeon Reeve, Twenty-first Wisconsin volunteers, acting chief surgeon of the First division, Fourteenth army corps, is hereby relieved from duty at these headquarters, with the full assurance that he has discharged his every honestly, faithfully and industriously." At the close of the war Dr. Reeve settled in Appleton, where he still resides. He is a member of George D. Eggleston Post, No. 133, G. A. R., and of the Wisconsin Commandery, Loyal Legion. He is medical director, Department of Wisconsin of the G. A. R., having first appointed to this office by Commander Hoard in 1895, and twice since then elected to the same office by the department at the encampments of 1896 and 1897. Dr. Reeve has always been a Republican, but has never held or been a candidate for a strictly political office; on the passage of the law requiring the inspection of illuminating oils in Wisconsin, he was, however, appointed by the governor as the supervisor of inspectors, in which capacity he organized this service throughout the state. With this exception the offices held by him have been closely connected and in harmony with his professional work, which he has ever held to be of the first importance. He was appointed pension examining surgeon soon after the close of the war, and held that office for about twenty-five years. He has always been an active supporter of medical associations, and has been president of the Fox River Valley Medical society. He was secretary of the State Medical society of Wisconsin from 1871 to 1889, with the exception of one year, in which he was president of the society. He has several times been a delegate to the American Medical association, and he has held the offices of both secretary and president of its section on state medicine and public hygiene. He was delegate to and member of the international medical congress in 1876, and a member of the national committee on organization of the Pan- American medical congress in 1893. Dr. Reeve is probably best known to the people of the state through his connection with the state board of health, of which he was secretary and executive officer from the organization of the board in 1876 for a period of eighteen consecutive years. He justly esteems this as the most important civil office he ever held, its duties requiring the constant exercise of careful judgment, as much of its work during these years was pioneer work and along lines for which there was but little by way of precedent in other states. He resigned this office in 1894, and spent a year in Europe, and since his return has given his whole attention to the practice of his profession. He has for many years been a member of and an officer in the First Congregational church of Appleton. He was married November 26th, 1857, to Page 509 Miss Laura Spofford, of Essex, Essex county, Mass. They have had six children, three of whom died in very early infancy. The other three, James S., Katharine M. and Howard D., are living. The oldest of these, James S., is a physician, a graduate with special honor from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and is associated with his father in the practice of his profession. Dr. Reeve received the honorary degree of A. M. from Ripon College in 1882, an appropriate and deserved recognition of the value of his long and faithful professional services in official positions. WIGMAN, John H. M., the senior member of the law firm of Wigman & Martin of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the son of James B. and Matilda Doorenboss Wigman, was born at Amsterdam, August 15th, 1835. He attended school in his native city until he was nine years old, when he was sent to college at Limburg, where he remained until 1847; in December of which year his mother died. His father's failing health necessitated a change in the affairs of the family, and, in 1848, the subject of this sketch and his brother Henry J. Wigman came to the United States with Rev. T. J. Van den Broek, arriving in Little Chute, Wis., in June of the same year. He remained with Father Van den Broek for a year, and then engaged in farming and other manual labor until 1854, when he entered a dry good store at Green Bay, as clerk, which position he retained two years. At the end of this time he took charge of the public school in the town of Scott, Brown county, studying law at the same time. He was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1857; in 1858 was elected clerk of the town of Green Bay, and the next year town treasurer. During these years he continued his law studies, borrowing books from the Green Bay lawyers, and practicing before justice courts. On the breaking out of the civil war his [image: JOHN H. M. WIGMAN.] brother enlisted in the Sixteenth Michigan infantry, and was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, on the day of his promotion to a second lieutenancy. In 1862 his father died and Mr. Wigman went to Holland to settle his father's estate; returning in July, and bringing his sister, Mrs. Helena M. Berendsen, with him, he took up his residence at Appleton, entering the office of T. R. Hudd as a law student. In February, 1864, he was examined in open court, and admitted to the bar. A law partnership was then formed under the firm name of Hudd & Wigman. He was elected district attorney of Outagamie county in 1864, and twice re-elected. In 1868 the firm opened an office at Green Bay, to which city he removed in 1870, with his family, having built the commodious residence which he still occupies. The firm of Hudd & Wigman continued in business till November, 1889, when it was dissolved, Mr. Wigman then taking into partnership his son- in-law. P. H. Martin, which is since known as the firm of Wigman & Martin. Mr. Wigman is considered among the ablest as he is one of the most successful lawyers in Page 510 the state, having frequently been victorious where defeat seemed imminent. Among many test cases in which he was most active is notably that of the bible in public schools. In 1885 he became one of the organizers of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, a benevolent association now composed of 170 branches, with a membership of nearly 8,000. He was elected its first president and reelected every two years up to the present time. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and in recognition of services rendered was made, by the papal authority at Rome, Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, on March 1st, 1887. In April, 1893, he was appointed United States district attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin, which office he held for four years, the term expiring April 15th, 1897. Mr. Wigman married Matilda Lyonais, in 1857, who bore him nine children. Mrs. Wigman dying in 1876, he married Miss Jane Meagher, his present wife, the fruit of this union being two sons and two daughters. Of the thirteen children eight still survive, four of whom, one son and three daughters, are married. SUTHERLAND, James.--Among the oldest and most successful business men of Janesville, is James Sutherland, who has contributed much toward the development of his city and state. He settled in Wisconsin before its admission as a state, and ever since has been active in advancing her interests. He is pre-eminently a man of the people, and originated some of the most beneficent laws of the state. He was born in the town of Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, March 20, 1820. His grandfather, John Sutherland, was a native of the Scotch Highlands, and came to this country at the age of eighteen years, and served as a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war under General Washington. He settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he lived to the age of nearly 100 years. John Sutherland, father of our subject, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1814 he married his betrothed, Elizabeth Smith, whom he had left to serve his country. She was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. Soon after their marriage they settled in Jefferson county, Ohio, and reared a family of six sons and four daughters, James being the fourth in order of birth. He passed his boyhood on his father's farm and acquired a good education at Ashland Academy and Norwalk Seminary, Ohio. He was ambitious to complete a college course, but his health failing he was compelled to change his plans. While a student he taught several winter terms in order to get money to pay his school expenses in the summer, his last teaching being in the Ashland Academy. For the benefit of his impaired health he spent a portion of the years 1845-6 in the southern states, and in the spring of 1847 removed from Ohio to Wisconsin, and settled in Rock county. In the fall of that year he settled at Janesville, and the next spring opened a book and stationery store, beginning in a small way, a business which has continued ever since and is now one of the most extensive in its line in Wisconsin. It may be said to his credit that during his business career of forty-five years he has never had a law suit or a controversy on money matters. He has reposed great confidence in his fellow men, and it has rarely been betrayed. He acts upon the principle that it is both better and cheaper to suffer an occasional loss than to lose confidence in mankind. While he has resigned to his sons much of the details of his large business interests, he still retains general supervision. He has always been a careful reader, and has given much study and thought to public questions, and foremost among those who have sought to use their means and influence for the uplifting of humanity and the advancement of the state and nation. For the material welfare of his town and county, he has aided in securing railroads and manufacturing industries. He has also shown a deep interest in the moral welfare of the people, and was made Page 511 treasurer of the Rock County Bible society on its organization in 1848, and has filled that office most of the time since; having also served the society as secretary and director, and being now, 1897, its president. As a layman he has long been a bible teacher, and has often addressed public meetings to promote bible knowledge and advance the cause of Christianity. He is a life member of the American Bible society, and vice-president of the Wisconsin State Historical society, which he has generously supported, and also a member of the American Historical association, having been elected to membership on its organization without his knowledge. Mr. Sutherland had the honor of delivering before the State Historical society of Wisconsin an address on the antiquities and early explorations of the territory now known as Wisconsin, the substance of which appears in the tenth volume of the reports of the society. On the admission of the state into the Union, in 1848, he was elected the first superintendent of schools in the town of Janesville, and was also the first superintendent of schools for the incorporated city, and organized its union school system. When a board of education was formed to control the schools, he was elected a member of that body for several years. He was twice elected mayor of the city by large majorities, in 1872 and again in 1873. He served two terms, of two years each, in the state senate, and took an active part in its proceedings. For three years he was chairman of the committee on education, school and university lands. To Mr. Sutherland, more than any other, belongs the credit of establishing the present beneficent state normal school system of Wisconsin, he having introduced the first bill to create a fund for this purpose; it was a substitute bill prepared by him, which became a law at the following session. He championed this measure in the senate and it passed that body with only one dissenting vote; after some modification it passed the assembly, the senate concurring with the amendments there [image: JAMES SUTHERLAND.] made. By the provisions of the act an ample fund has been provided for the endowment of these schools, without any direct cost to the people, from a portion of the sales of the swamps and overflowed lands which had been donated to the state by act of congress of 1850. From this fund seven normal schools are maintained, affording a permanent means of educating teachers for the public schools. It was during Mr. Sutherland's service in the senate that the scandalous extra session was held which turned over a vast amount of state property to the railroads in the form of a land grant. He opposed the measure which made a disposition of the grant, it being apparent to him that corrupt means were being used to secure it, and spurned every offer of advantage or consideration for his vote. He took an active part in exposing this fraud at a subsequent session of the legislature, being chairman of the committee of investigation in the senate. During his residence in the south, Mr. Sutherland had an opportunity to observe the practical workings of the slave system and became its uncompromising opponent; hence Page 512 we find him a delegate from the state of Wisconsin to the national Free Soil convention held in Pittsburg in 1852, which put John P. Hale in nomination for president of the United States. He was present at the organization of the Republican party for this state, at Madison in 1854, and from its organization he has been prominent in its councils. In nearly every political contest since that time, either at the call of the central committee or by invitation of the people, he has addressed public meetings in the city of Janesville and throughout the county, and is still supporting and promulgating the principles of his party. While he has never been a third-party prohibitionist, he has always been a friend and advocate of the cause of temperance, believing that, while moral means must be used mainly, in maintaining good order, yet, it is the duty of the state to enact the best temperance measures which the people will enforce. He was among the first to espouse the cause of the Republican anti-saloon movement, and was a member of the first national conference called to consider this measure, which met in September, 1886, at Chicago, and served as one of the committee on resolutions. He believes that the life and success of the political party to which he belongs depend upon an advanced position on this important question, as upon other living issues. By invitation of the editor, Mr. Sutherland was for some years a contributor to the New York Mail and Express, and his articles published in that and other papers were characteristic in their sound logic and earnestness and in their practical suggestions of reform. In November, 1886, F. H. Revell of New York an Chicago, published a neat volume prepared by Mr. Sutherland, entitled "Talks of Living Subjects," in which he not only presents his views of the best methods of promoting the cause of temperance, but also points out the harmony existing between the sciences and the Mosaic account of the creation, and also shows the bible to have been the great civilizing and Christianizing influence in the world. This work has been heartily commended by the press and the public generally, and should be in the hands of both young and old, as the questions there discussed greatly concern our country as well as ourselves. Some seven years ago, Mr. Sutherland made a tour to the Yellowstone National park and wrote several newspaper articles in relation to that most wonderful place. One of these was devoted to its fauna, flora and the cause of the geysers. For this article President Langley of the Smithsonian Institute, has made him due acknowledgments. His reading, of late years, has been confined mainly to history, the earth and the heavens. In December, 1846, he married Miss Elizabeth Withington. She is a native of Akron, Ohio, and a daughter of Danieland Temperance (Gray) Withington, of early English ancestry. Of seven children born to them, Le Verrier, the fourth in order of birth, died in California, December 30, 1892; Charles Linnaeus, the sixth, is a physician in Rockton, Illinois; the others, James A., Orion, Arcturus, Araby and Lily Imogen, reside in Janesville. The two eldest are associated with their father in business. Mr. Sutherland became a Christian in early life, and is a member of the First Congregational church of Janesville. He believes that, while there are other systems of religion in the world which inculcate much that is moral and good, the bible alone contains a full and complete revelation to mankind, and that the plan of salvation there unfolded is that which is to compass and save the world. While, at the age of seventy-seen years, bodily infirmities are beginning to encroach upon him, and the things of this life, with all their beauties and charms, begin to fade, his faith and hope reach forward to a higher life where brighter scenes, new joys and more extended field of knowledge will open to view, and where there shall be perpetual growth both in knowledge and goodness.--the Columbian Biographical Dictionary. Page 513 ROBERTS, Richard Watson, one of the stirring business men of Milwaukee, is the son of Vincent Roberts, a native of Wales, who came to this country some sixty years ago, finally settling in Dodge county, where he became a loan agent, and where he died in 1888, leaving considerable property. His wife, who was Tryphthena Jones, the mother of R. W. Roberts, was also of Welsh ancestry, and a woman of intelligence and high character. R. W. Roberts was born at Iron Ridge, Wis., on the 12th of August, 1856. His early education was received in the district schools, where he appears to have applied himself with diligence and no little success, for he acquired a good, practical knowledge of the fundamental branches of an education. This supplemented by a course in Spencer's Business College, sufficed to prepare him for the successful business career upon which he entered very soon after leaving school. He first engaged in farming, and then, in 1883, in the lumber business. Upon the death of his father he succeeded to the loan business, which he is still carrying on with success. On July 3rd, 1894, he started a bank at Wittenberg, Wis., with a capital of $25,000--a very liberal sum for a town of that size, yet the business which it is doing seems to demand at least that sum. On the 15th of May, 1896, he started a bank at Manawa, Wis., with a capital of $10,000, and of both establishments he is the sole owner and proprietor. The organization of these banks and their successful management shows Mr. Roberts to be possessed of a financial ability and tact quite unusual even among men educated with especial reference to callings of this nature. Mr. Roberts, on all political questions, is a Republican, not a very active one, perhaps, but one who holds to his principles on that subject as on all others with a tenacity characteristic of men of his ancestry. He is a member of the Calumet club, and an Elk. He is also a member of the Congregational church. November 23rd, 1880, Mr. Roberts was married [image: RICHARD WATSON ROBERTS.] to Addie Butler, a woman of many graces and accomplishments and of rare virtues and character. They have two sons: Allie B. and Vincent G. Roberts. STEWART, Henry Havelock, a resident of West Superior and treasurer of Douglas county, was born at Breadalbane, Ontario, September 6th, 1864, the son of Peter A. and Annie McLaren Stewart. Peter A. Stewart has been sessional clerk of the house of commons at Ottawa, Ontario, for the past thirty years, and is "the son of John Stewart, who was the son of Peter, who was the son of another Peter, who was the son of John Roy Stewart. They were of the royal Stewarts of Garth, descended from the Wolf of Badenoch and the duke of Albany, the king's brother. H. H. Stewart's grandfather was born in the parish of Kenmore at Loch Tayside, Scotland, and emigrated with his parents to Ontario about 1808, when five years of age. John Roy Stewart was a celebrated character in his day. He fought with the duke of Cumberland, to whom he was personally known, in Page 514 [image: HENRY HAVELOCK STEWART.] Germany; and against him and for Prince Charles Edward in 1745 and 1746. The battle of Culloden was a crusher to him as well as to many others, whose chief inheritance thereafter was poverty." It will be seen, therefore, that the family were all of Highland Scotch descent. H. H. Stewart was educated in the common schools of Ontario, which at that time were of an inferior order, the teacher's chief accomplishment being the ability to inflict corporal punishment with straps, sticks and switches. He ran away from a school of this kind when seven years old, walking sixteen miles into the country, dragging with him a younger brother. He did not enjoy going to school until he was twelve years of age. He wanted to work for himself when ten years old, and resolved to get away from home, and did go when sixteen years old, and has never stayed at home since. He was stubborn and caused his parents much trouble to control him. He also attended the Ontario Business College at Belleville. After this he went to Saginaw, Mich., in April, 1883, where he worked at handling coal, rock, etc., in the hold of a vessel, piled lumber and worked in the woods. In August, 1884, he went to Chippewa Falls, Wis., where his first job was as cook's helper. His next was laying ties and iron on the railroad from Chippewa Falls to St. Paul. After that he worked in lumber camps, on river drives and then as tally man at the Beef Slough boom. Then he became delivery man for a meat market, later book-keeper, and next clerk in a grocery. In short, he showed his willingness to do anything by which he could make an honest living. In 1887 he went to Superior, and was book-keeper for a meat market there; and afterwards he was book-keeper for several years for Rhodes Brothers, street, dock and railroad contractors. During these years the firm changed several times, and finally Mr. Stewart became the junior partner, the firm being Rhodes & Stewart. Their work was mostly railroad construction, on the Duluth, S. S. & A., the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific and the Superior Terminal railways. At this time he was taken sick with typhoid fever, and was confined to his room for nearly a year, during which most of his property was swept away by the expenses involved in his sickness and his inability to look after his interests. Upon his recovery, however, he set to work again to repair his losses, taking the position of book-keeper for the Lake Superior Logging Railway company. In the spring of 1894 he was appointed assistant city treasurer, which office he held until elected county treasurer in November, 1896. Mr. Stewart was married on the 27th of June, 1894, to Jessie C. McLaren of Chippewa Falls, Wis., who is the daughter of a prominent lumberman of that city. Mr. Stewart has always been a Republican, and has done what a citizen may honorably do for the success of the party which he has espoused. He is prompt and energetic, accurate in the discharge of his official duties, is genial and courteous in manner, a very popular official and enterprising citizen, as all the leading men of Superior seem to be. He joined the Odd Fellows Lodge in 1888, and Page 515 afterward the various branches subordinate. He has been twice noble grand, twice chief patriarch and twice captain. He was district deputy grand master; joined the State Grand Lodge and was several times representative therein. He instituted Oak Lodge, No. 340, of the order. Whatever success Mr. Stewart has attained is due entirely to his own energy and untiring exertion. His life so far is a striking illustration of what a young man can accomplish if he is industrious, economical and honest, and is inspired by a worthy ambition. In view of what he has already attained his friends may reasonably and confidently anticipate for him a very successful and distinguished career. SKINNER, James W., was born in Warren, Pa., August 8, 1838. He came to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, in 1847, and with the exception of a few years passed in Colorado, has lived in this state ever since. His schooling was meager compared with that which the sons of well-to-do families of to-day are given. He took up a business career early in life, going into his father's country store at thirteen years of age. Subsequently he was admitted to partnership with his father. Later he was engaged with his father in a manufacturing business at Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, making hubs, spokes and wagon materials. In 1859, attracted by the reported discovery of gold in Colorado, and desiring to try a trip across the plains for the improvement of his health, he became one of the pioneers in the new country, witnessing the early growth of Denver and of the now flourishing and important state, then not even organized as a territory. He returned to Wisconsin in 1862. He has been connected with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance company, of which he is now secretary, for a period of thirty-two years. It was in December, 1865, that he came to Milwaukee and entered the employment of this company as a clerk. He was appointed [image: JAMES W. SKINNER.] assistant secretary of the company in 1872, and in 1882 succeeded Willard Merrill as secretary. The life of Mr. Skinner affords an illustration of which there are numerous examples in every country, and especially in America, of the fact that a young man without special educational advantages or the aid of influential friends, may secure a good position in the business world by the exercise of the homely virtues: Honesty, industry and perseverance. VILAS, Edward Perrin, a Milwaukee lawyer of ability and prominence, was born in Madison, Wis., November 6th, 1852. His father, Levi B. Vilas, was a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1811. He was a man of education and culture, a lawyer of marked ability, a man of unquestioned integrity, and possessed of a high sense of honor, and a broad-minded, generous citizen. He practiced his profession in Vermont for some eighteen years, during which time he was a prominent member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the constitutional convention in Page 516 [image: EDWARD PERRIN VILAS.] 1835, was a member of the lower house of the legislature for six years, two years a state senator and three a probate judge. He was the Democratic candidate for congress in 1848; but as his party was decidedly in the minority in the state he was unsuccessful. In 1851 Judge Vilas came to Wisconsin and settled in Madison, where he resided until his death in 1879. He represented the Madison district in the assembly three times, was mayor of Madison one term, was draft commissioner in 1862, and twelve years regent of the state university, of which he was an earnest, faithful, judicious friend and supporter. E. P. Vilas attended the public schools of Madison until 1867, when he became a student in the preparatory department of the state university, where he was fitted for college, and a year later entered the university proper in the ancient classical course, graduating in 1872 with honors. While a student he was a member of the Hesperian society and took an active part in all its proceedings. After graduating he entered temporarily a railroad office for the purpose of gaining a practical knowledge of business methods, and was private secretary of the division superintendent of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad for about a year. He then began reading law in the office of Vilas & Bryant in Madison, and in 1874 entered the law school of the university and graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1875. He continued with the firm of Vilas & Bryant until 1876, when he was admitted to a partnership in the firm. This partnership continued until 1885, when it was dissolved, W. F. Vilas and Mr. Bryant both retiring, the former having been elected to the United States senate. E. P. Vilas continued the business alone until June, 1888, when he removed to Milwaukee, becoming a member of the firm of Jenkins, Winkler, Smith & Vilas. In July, 1888, Mr. Jenkins retired from the firm to become judge of the United States district court for the Eastern district of Wisconsin, when the firm of Winkler, Flanders, Smith, Bottum & Vilas was at once formed, and Mr. Vilas has continued in practice in that firm up to the present time. While at Madison he was for many years a court commissioner, resigning on his removal to Milwaukee. He has never held a political office, but was appointed by Gov. Peck, one of the trustees of the Asylum for the Chronic Insane for Milwaukee county, and held that position until the summer of 1896, when he resigned. In politics Mr. Vilas has always been a Democrat, as was his father before him; but, in 1896, the radical departure of the national platform from some of the well-established principles of the party and the adoption of others subversive of good government, compelled him to abandon it and act with the national Democratic party as represented in the platform and candidates of the Indianapolis convention. Mr. Vilas' opinions remain unchanged, and he proposes to act independently hereafter until the party returns to principles which he can endorse. He is a member of the Milwaukee, Country, Deutscher and Lawyers' clubs, and was president of the Arion club for two years. Mr. Vilas was married, in 1877, to Elizabeth Page 517 Gordon Atwood, daughter of David Atwood, for many years proprietor of the State Journal of Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Vilas have one son, Charles Atwood Vilas, who is now pursuing the ancient classical course in the Wisconsin state university, expecting to graduate in 1899. Mrs. Vilas is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was the first regent of the Milwaukee Chapter. She is also a member of the Woman's club of Milwaukee, and at present of the Athenaeum. CRAMER, William Edward, is descended from one of those families of Friesian descent which were among the first pioneers of New York. His father was John Cramer of Waterford, Saratoga county, New York, who was a presidential elector in 1804--casting his vote for Jefferson and Clinton--and who was a representative in congress from 1833 to 1837. William E. Cramer was born in Waterford, October 29, 1817. There he resided until his twenty-sixth year, studying under the noted Prof. Tayler Lewis, and graduating at Union College in 1838. He read law and was admitted to the bar, but his tastes led him to prefer journalism as a vocation, and from 1843 to 1846 he was one of the editorial writers of The Albany Argus, which was then managed by Edwin Croswell, and which was the chief organ of the Democracy in the state. Among the daily associates of the young journalist were John Van Buren, Silas Wright, John A. Dix, Governor Marcy, Horatio Seymour, Samuel J. Tilden, ex-President Van Buren and other men who made the Democrat party at that time the exponent of great principles which have become embodied in the fiber of the great republic. Mr. Cramer came to Milwaukee in May, 1847, at the request of a number of prominent Democrats who thought their party needed able journalistic support. In partnership with Joseph Curtis, a Rochester newspaper man, Mr. Cramer purchased, for $2,000, The Milwaukee Courier, a weekly; and, changing its [image: WILLIAM EDWARD CRAMER.] name to the Daily Wisconsin, soon made it one of the leading newspapers of the northwest--a position it has now held for almost half a century, during the whole of which time he has been its active head. Very fey issues have gone to press without one or more articles from his pen. No one who reads his graphic descriptions of places, people and things, and who are unacquainted with the author, would suppose that they are the work of one bereft of the senses of sight and hearing; yet from 1860 Mr. Cramer has been nearly blind, and able to hear only with the aid of a speaking tube. But his intense energy and industry, quick perception, and marvelous powers of memory and judgment have practically enabled him to overcome his physical disadvantage. In 1869 Mr. Cramer married Miss Harriet L. Barker, and after his marriage made an extensive tour of Europe in company with his wife. They were in Paris during the Franco-German war, and were locked up in the besieged city for several months, until liberated, with other American residents, through the good offices of United States Minister Page 518 Washburn and Chancellor Bismarck. They were also in Paris during the whole reign of the Commune, from March until July, and there witnessed the demolition of the Column Vendome, the burning of the palace of the Tuilleries and the execution of the incendiaries who had fired the public buildings and who were shot on the barricades which they themselves had erected across the Rue de Rivoli. Mr. Cramer's recollection of these and other events causes him to feel that he witnessed in Paris, in 1871, a re-enactment of the bloody scenes of the first revolution, when Robespierre and Danton wielded the vengeance of the government against the peace and good order of society. Mr. Cramer has also traveled extensively in the United States and Mexico, usually in company with his wife, who is eyes and ears for him whenever he requires assistance. Partly to her faithful and loving service in this direction, and partly to his marvelous skill in questioning people into whose company he is thrown, is due his reputation of being able to find out more, on short acquaintances, concerning any place or man or event than can be gathered by most people who are in possession of all of their senses. In 1884 he revisited Europe in a tour through Ireland, England, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Austria, Baden and France. Though in his eightieth year Mr. Cramer still writes for the paper every day, and his interest and influence extend to every detail of the great journal's management. From the youngest reporter to the managing editor, all his employes feel that their work is the object of his immediate observation, and all have the benefit of his experienced suggestions. His work in his special department is notable for consistency, lucidity, accuracy, and force. It has been the main object of his life to build up in Milwaukee a newspaper and a printing office which would reflect credit upon the commonwealth of his adoption. After severe trials and long delays there was reared, on the corner of Milwaukee and Michigan streets, a structure which has become, in all its departments, one of the completest and most perfect printing establishments in the land. Having no children, Mr. Cramer has a special pride in and love for his work. With the assistance of his two partners, Andrew J. Aikens and John F. Cramer, in that structure has been organized one of the completest institutions and printing departments in the whole country, and it is his ambition and his hope to do his daily work in that office until he is called hence by the summons of the Higher Power, which no man can resist. In the conduct of his journal Mr. Cramer has been utterly incorruptible. Under his direction the Evening Wisconsin has not been the organ of any party or man, but has followed the lines he conceived to be for the best interests of the people among whom he has lived. He has not always chosen the winning or popular side, but has fearlessly pursued what he believed to be right. Thus, while his journal has never been an organ, it has been read in more Wisconsin homes than any single publication in the last twenty-five years. It has been his just boast that in the fifty years of his editorial work not a single line has been paid for in money, or inserted in the hope of pecuniary or other reward. Mr. Cramer is peculiarly an observer, and until the failure of his sight few travelers saw as much both of the useful and artistic works of man. In his personal life his habits are simple. He has always had a kind word and a helping hand for the poor and dependent, but the rich he uniformly leaves to take care of themselves. Careful and prudent in small things, when occasion comes to meet his approval he is more than generous--he is prodigal. He is of a religious cast of mind, an unquestionable believer in the evangelical religion of his mother, and a daily reader of the gospels. He never discusses the abstractions of later science. The good old way is good enough for him, but he is tolerant of the opinions of others. His mental characteristics are Page 519 of a high order. His memory of events is so remarkable that it is a proverb of his editorial room that no encyclopedias or gazetteers will be needed there while he lives. As a citizen he is unobtrusive, his infirmities of sight and hearing preventing his mingling in public meetings, but his person is known to every citizen of Milwaukee and loved in thousands of homes. In the course of his long life the only office he ever held, and which he regarded as an honor, was that in the presidential election of 1872, when his name headed the electoral ticket which gave the vote of Wisconsin to General Ulysses S. Grant. The people, however, honor and love him, and his standing in the community is shown by the fact that on the 5th day of July, 1894, a fine marble bust of him, in connection with one of Senator Matthew H. Carpenter, was presented to the State Historical society of Wisconsin, which gladly accepted them; while speeches were made by various prominent citizens, who paid tributes to the public services of the originals of the marble likenesses.-- Columbian Biographical Dictionary. CAMPBELL, Gardner, who for many years was a prominent manufacturer of Milwaukee, was born in 1834, in Dunfermline, Scotland, noted as the home of the Abercrombies, one of the distinguished families in Scottish history. In this interesting locality Gardner Campbell's boyhood was spent. There he acquired a good practical education, and there he learned the trade of bell founder, thoroughly mastering all its details by the time he was sixteen years old. With his equipment and a purpose to win his way in the world through energy and perseverance in the pursuit of an honest calling, he set out for this country in 1850, with his parents, arriving in Milwaukee, August 3rd, of that year, having made the entire trip from New York City by water, a journey which occupied several weeks. From Milwaukee they went on to Waushara [image: GARDNER CAMPBELL.] county, Wis., where they purchased a farm. After two years of pioneer farming, he went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade for eight months. In 1854 he located permanently in Milwaukee, working for some four years in Decker & Seville's foundry and in the Menomonee Locomotive works. He then purchased and operated for two years the first steam threshing machine in Wisconsin. He was next engaged in running a steam flouring mill at North Prairie, Waukesha county, where he remained for two years, and then, in 1862, returned to Milwaukee, resuming work at his trade. His next venture was the establishing of the Union foundry, which, after operating it one year, he sold at a large advance over its cost, and entered the employ of James Sheriffs as foreman of his foundry. Subsequently he was successively employed in the foundries of Filer & Stowell and E. P. Allis. In 1876, in company with his sons, George G. and Henry E. Campbell, he established the Centennial Bell and Iron works, which have grown into a large and prosperous establishment, the manufacture of church, school and other bells being a specialty. Their bells have Page 520 taken rank with the best manufactured in this country. The great bell in the tower of the Milwaukee city hall, weighing eleven tons, one of the largest in this country, was cast at the Campbell foundry. Mr. Campbell was very successful in all his business ventures and he succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. The business of which he was the founder is now carried on by his sons on a larger and still more profitable scale. He was a man possessed of excellent business capacities, and greatly respected wherever known for his sterling character. He was early identified with the anti-slavery cause and cast his first vote for Fremont, the first Republican candidate for president. He retained his affiliation with the Republican party throughout his life. He early became a Mason, and in 1869 assisted in the formation of Excelsior Lodge, No. 175, on the south side, and was always a faithful attendant upon the meetings of that lodge. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Chapter No. 40, a member of Wisconsin Commandery, Knights Templar, and had attained the thirty-second degree in the Wisconsin Consistory of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons. Though identified with the different degrees of Masonry, his interest was chiefly in the lodge. He was also an influential member of the St. Andrew's society. Mr. Campbell was married July 4th, 1855, to Miss Isabel Henderson, daughter of the late George Henderson, an honored pioneer of Waukesha county. Mrs. Campbell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 2nd, 1833, and was educated in a noted private school in her native city. Mr. Campbell died at his home in Milwaukee, September 9th, 1892, lamented by all who had known his worth as a man and a citizen. His remains were consigned to their last resting place in Forest Home cemetery with Masonic honors by his brethren of Excelsior Lodge, assisted by the Sir Knights of his commandery and the St. Andrew's society. End Part 16