Dane County Wisconsin
Biographies
Dane County Wisconsin
Biographies
Abel Anderson
Source: Herringshaw's American Blue-Book of Biography by Thomas William Herringshaw and American Publishers' Association (1914) tk, Transcribed by AFOFG
Anderson, Abel, clergyman of Montevideo. Minn., was born Dec. 6, 1847, in Albion, Wis. In 1888-99 he filled the chair of ancient and modern languages in the Windom institute; and was school inspector for a number of years.
Hon. James Campbell
He was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Feb. 19, 1814. His parents were blessed with a large family, while the supply of worldly goods was not abundant; but the children were given what, at that time, was deemed a good common school education. They were also taught the all important lesson of self-reliance.
In 1835 James, the subject of this sketch, at the age of twenty-one, started out for himself, and came to Wisconsin. The next season he rented a farm in Green County, and commenced operations as a farmer. In 1841 he moved on to his own farm in the town of Albany, in that county, and was the first settler in that town. He was a successful tiller of the soil. In 1850 he opened the first store in the village of Albany, located one mile north of his farm. Largely through the influence of Mr. Campbell, the Sugar River Valley Railroad Company had been chartered, which provided for the construction of a railroad from the State line via Brodhead and Albany, to Madison.
In 1861 Mr. Campbell was a member of the assembly from the county of Green, and succeeded in getting the charter of the Sugar River valley Road amended, so as to extend the line from Madison to Portage; and that portion of the congressional land grant of 1856, which was given to aid in constructing a railroad between these two cities, was given by the legislature to this company. Mr. Campbell took a deep interest in the construction of this road, and in 1862 relinquished his mercantile pursuits, and devoted his whole attention to it. For a time the work progressed in a satisfactory manner but in 1863, through conflicting interests in the management, the Sugar River Valley Railroad Company became involved in debt; and all work upon it was suspended, greatly to the injury of Mr. Campbell, who was a contractor for the building of the road. The property of this company was sold on an execution and Mr. Campbell became the purchaser.
In 1870, the Sugar River Valley Company having forfeited all claim to the land grant, Mr. Campbell procured from the legislature the charter of the Madison and Portage Railroad Company, and a transfer of the land grant to it. He then bent his whole energies to the construction of this road and, in less than one year from the passage of the charter, the road was completed between the cities of Madison and Portage, being a distance of about forty miles. This work was met by many and serious obstacles but Mr. Campbell knew no such word as "fail" and, by the most persevering efforts, overcame them all. Under the circumstances, it was a great accomplishment, and gave Mr. Campbell a high reputation as a railroad man. He still remains the president of the company, and has been engaged for the last three years in an effort to extend this road North and South, so as to connect the immense lumber region of Wisconsin with the extensive coal mines of Illinois.
He has made two or three visits to Europe in this interest, in the hope to raise money for the completion of this enterprise, and, no doubt, would have been successful in his endeavors, but for the general depression in railroad securities. He still hopes to accomplish this noble work at no distant day; and those who know Mr. Campbell best have but little doubt of his ultimate success. He does not willingly give up a favorite project.
As a citizen, Mr. Campbell is universally respected for his sterling integrity of character, and for his broad and liberal views on all questions of a public interest. He is true to his friends, and generous towards all whom prove themselves worthy of his confidence.
As a business man, he is clear in his perceptions, sound in judgment, and decisive in action and, while modest and unassuming in his bearing, he is characterized by strong individuality of character, positiveness of opinion, and tenacity of purpose, that cause him to succeed where most men would fail. Mr. Campbell is at present a resident of Madison.
[Source: "An Illustrated History of the State of Wisconsin"; By Charles Richard Tuttle; Publ. 1875; Transcribed and donated by Andrea Stawski Pack. ]
Lewis Ellington
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
ELLINGTON Lewis, Crookston. Banker. Born Jan 1, 1850 in Norway, son of Lars and Sarah Ellington. Married June 26, 1873 to Jane Brown. Educated in common schools of Primrose Wis; and high school Forest City Ia. First engaged as clk in gen store Forest City Ia 1866; moved to Steele county Minn and engaged as clk in Blooming Prairie 4 years; engaged in gen merchandise business with partner 2 years; sold out and engaged in milling business 2 years; was burned out and started again in mercantile and insurance business; moved to Crookston and was asst cashr Scandia American Bank 1887-90; cashr 1880 to date. Pres State Bank of Erskine Minn; dir Citizens State Bank of Fertile Minn; treas and dir Maplebay Wind Stacker Co; v pres Wheeler Land & Loan Co; dir First Nat Bank Cass Lake. Member city council Crookston 3 terms; American Bankers Assn; Masonic fraternity; B P O E; K T.
Jairus Cassius Fairchild
Jairus Cassius Fairchild was born in one of the northern towns of New York, on the 27th of December, 1801. A younger son of a large family, he might have remained there, but for the loss of his mother at an early age. As he used laughingly to express it, he "found he could not govern his stepmother;" and so, at eleven years, he started out to seek his fortune. Probably, among the hardy pioneers of the time, this did not seem so doubtful a venture as it might now do. It must be added, that the same step-mother afterwards paid him a visit at his home in Ohio, and received most affectionate attention from himself and his wife, to whose children she became much attached. Unfortunately, there is no clear record of these early years, full of adventure and of persevering effort. Doubtless a most entertaining book might be made of them, if any friend could clearly recall the stories he has related of scenes through which he passed. He recollected vividly the news of the attack on Sackett's Harbor, brought by a man mounted on a horse detached from the plough, who seeing a fresher one standing harnessed at his father's door, threw himself from one to the other, and continued his journey over hill and dale to warn the people of the approaching enemy.
Fifteen little months would cover all the time spent in schools. But he was a careful observer, with retentive memory; and whether he earned his bread at the weaver's loom, or by business journeys through the country, on both sides the River St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, he laid up stores of practical knowledge, which made him a cyclopedia for those who sought information from him in later years.
An indefatigable and critical reader, nothing came amiss to his inquiring, thoughtful mind; and, even at this early period, he had reasoned, and drawn conclusions, upon subjects not speculated upon by his companions; and theories now commonly received were reached by him alone and unaided. One fact, unimportant in itself, shows a marked character and capacity. He always rose late. Entering upon any employment, this fact was always mentioned by him, and the hope expressed, that he should make himself so valuable after he was up, as to make up for the loss of time. One smiles to think of the young boy thus frankly dictating terms to his masters, expressing a hope that he might overcome his tendency, but, if it proved impossible, asking consideration,-a consideration which was, I believe, never denied. This is mentioned, not as a good precedent, hut only as showing a characteristic.
At twenty-one we find him, with an elder brother, Marcus Brutus, entering Ohio in search of a permanent home. They separated at Cleveland, agreeing to meet there at a certain time, and" report progress. But the brother never returned; and, after weary and anxious waiting, the subject of this sketch entered upon an engagement with Owen Brown, the father of that John Brown whose devotion to the cause of antislavery, and raid into Virginia, have given him so wonderful a place in the history of our country. This Owen Brown was a remarkable man: a volume might be written of his sayings, full of wit, and of keen, shrewd good sense. An industrious and prosperous man, he stood high among his fellows, and was a valuable friend to a young man starting in life.
Among his other enterprises, he had a tannery, and taught the young man this trade; and soon after John Brown and Mr. Fairchild became partners in the business. But John Brown, - stern, unbending, a man of "one idea," the stuff of which martyrs are made,- grand and sublime though he be in history, was not the most suave and agreeable companion one could find for social relations; and this arrangement was very brief, though a friendship continued. For when, some years later, John lost his wife, the fact was announced in a letter to his former partner, beginning, "My good, faithful, obedient wife Diantha is dead."
About this time Mr. Fairchild met with Sally Blair, a handsome, energetic daughter of New England, of Scotch Irish descent, gifted with Scotch persistency and Irish kindliness. One brief meeting left upon each so strong an impression, that the acquaintance was voluntarily renewed; and a few months later, in the spring of 1826, he brought his bride home to Franklin Mills (now Kent), Ohio, where they lived in a log-house a year, till their own house was built.
After all his wanderings and struggles, we find the homeless, self instructed boy anchored by his "aill fireside." Here four children were born, and one laid under the sod. He built a brick store, now pointed out as the first brick building ever erected in the town. Very small it looks; but it was regarded with no contempt then. No success or position of later years was brighter or more beautiful than these few years passed by him in the thriving little village, as the proprietor of a large tannery, of "the store," and his own cottage close by it, a justice of the peace, and known as "the Squire" in all the neighboring counties. He was an active temperance man. So prevalent was drunkenness at this time that nothing short of total abstinence could remedy the evil. Tobacco and stimulants in all forms were fought against with all his youthful vigor; and not till near his fiftieth year did he, by the advice of several physicians, adopt the occasional use of them. This period, uneventful in a written history, afforded time for maturing and assimilating the experiences and observations of his previous years; for reading law, in order that he might faithfully and justly act as "squire;" for investigating financial and political questions to fit him for business and citizenship. Hut to him personally this was a period of intense interest. His busy days were followed by sleepless nights of study of the Bible, and thoughtful talks with his clergyman and others. An active and prayerful church-member, his views of Christian duty were extreme and vigorous; and though these most conscientious struggles resulted in a positive rejection of the miraculous claims of theology, they gave an enviable familiarity with the teachings and spirit of the Founder of Christianity, and a steadfast faith in the wisdom of the command to "do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with "God."
During all these years, one of the delightful domestic events was the frequent visits of his good old friend Owen Brown, whose affection extended to the wife and children, and whose habit of frightful stammering only added a charm to the keen wit and kindly good-humor which made him a delight to children as well as to the older ones.
In 1834 he removed to Cleveland, - then rushing on in the full tide of speculation, - just in time to be stranded by the tidal wave of 1837, which wrecked so many imaginary millionaires. His little brood, incapable of comprehending the prosperity, were taught by this adversity that opportunities for education were to be made the most of; and much of the sons' perseverance, and faithful performance of small duties, may have been unconsciously derived from their father's humbling experiences in this "crash." While engaged in the wearisome and mortifying business of adjusting these affairs, there came to him, unexpectedly, a position in the secret service of the government, which gave him active employment, and means of subsistence, during the period in which his hands were tied by his embarrassments. It also afforded him an opportunity to choose a home wherein he should start anew.
One dreary March day, driving against a biting north wind, in the year 1846, he arrived in Madison, Wis.; and, after a stay of less than twenty-four hours, he wrote to his wife in Cleveland that he had found the place wherein he should live and die. This active, far-seeing helpmeet was ready for the summons and, bringing children and household goods, joined him in Milwaukee.
Driving two and a half days over green prairies, and through "oak openings," where shadows danced upon a brilliant carpet of flowers, they reached Madison June 8, 1846.
The first constitutional convention, occurring this year, not only brought most of the leading men of the State together in Madison, but made political questions the subject of everyday common conversation. Into these he threw himself with eager interest; and, though some of the progressive measures most pleasing to him led to the rejection of the constitution by the people, he lived to see most of them adopted by the State.
He had been a Henry Clay Whig, a "stump" speaker during the campaign which elected Harrison; and was one of the few who sustained John Tyler in his course after the death of the President brought him to the head of the administration. Perhaps it was not so much that he agreed with him in the abstract, as that he claimed for him the right to carry out the principles he had always held, and his known advocacy of which had given strength to the efforts which resulted in the triumph of the party. So few were the Tyler men, that they were known as the "corporal's guard," - a soubriquet cheerfully accepted by himself and others.
This state of things naturally drifted him with the Democrats; and he was elected state treasurer at the first State election, on the Democratic ticket, at the head of which was Gov. Dewey, and was elected to the same office, for a second term, in 1849. In 185l, and again in 1853, he was pressed by his friends for the Democratic nomination for governor, and on the second occasion lacked only two votes of the number required to confer the nomination.
He was the only State officer who kept house in Madison; and his own and his wife's unfailing hospitality made their simple, unpretending home a delightful social centre, and familiarly known to all whose business or tastes brought them to the City of the Lakes. Perhaps in this way, more than in any public positions, was their united influence exercised in the rapidly-increasing community. All his efforts went to develop the resources of his own vicinity, and to advance the interests of his neighbors. If he gained a little money, instead of seeking some safe investment, where he could profit by the industry of others, he put it into improvements of the town or State. Immediately upon his arrival in Madison, he set about getting a home for life. His first step was to buy a saw-mill in the pinery; and, running his own lumber down to Prairie du Sac, he had it hauled by teams, twenty-five miles, to Madison. Then there was no brick. The beautiful stone, now easily procured, was then inaccessible: so he started a brick-yard, and made enough bricks for all his own buildings, and to go far towards paying for the other materials used. These things being ready, the architect who was to have taken charge failed, and so he completed the job by giving his own daily personal attention to the details of the work to the end. A home gained under such difficulties, and enriched by memories of years of hospitalities, is not to be bought with mere money.
While he was a State officer, he became intimately acquainted with the whole State, through his ex-officio connection with the commissioners for the' care of school and university lands; and, though he was strongly averse to much they were obliged to do, considering it a waste or misuse of a noble endowment, yet he enjoyed giving his time and strength to the work, and was faithful and efficient in efforts to avert evils, and accomplish good.
Not much is it to tell, - the first state treasurer in a new State, the first mayor in a very small city, the builder of an unassuming home and of other modest buildings. But his 'influence was widely felt in his day; and who shall say where it will end? He could not sleep comfortably in his bed if he knew others to be homeless and suffering. He was foremost in every public work. No widow or orphan was ever turned away till his best thought and kindest aid had been given. No man, not even the worthless, ever appealed to his friendship in vain. He felt that want of success often stamped a man as worthless among his fellows; and the unfortunate were sure of his aid. At one time his banker refused to accept, his name as an endorser, giving, as a reason, that his name was on two-thirds of the paper in Dane County. Of course, he had losses; of course, he a very few times aided scamps; of course, he had no millions to divide among his children. It is not a good example to follow to that extent. And yet who would not prefer the troubles and embarrassments brought by such a life, to those attending the selfish life?
He had a powerful frame, a large, intellectual head, fine features, a fair complexion, and bright auburn curling hair. His physical strength was enormous. At one time, when a spirited horse which he was driving, frenzied by fright, had started to run, he stopped him by main strength, nearly pulling him back into the buggy. Though genial in his ways, and under habitual self-control, his passions were strong; and his keen sense of honor led him to quick resentment of any attack upon his character. The first year of his residence in Madison, he walked steadily into a printing-office, and, with his own unaided arm, broke up a newspaper form upon the press, then printing false words derogatory to him. This strength, and self-reliance in his personal appearance, made the feebleness and loss of sight of his last months peculiarly touching.
His life went out in darkness. The war came. He had foreseen it with deepest pain. He was of those who thought the election of Douglas over Lincoln would have averted it for the time, possibly would have shifted it along till different circumstances had quietly-accomplished the end, which came only through blood and anguish. But when the call for men came, and his son Lucius was one of the first five in the State to enlist to serve in any capacity required, he made no objection. It was his country; and the Union was essential to his idea of it. And when Cassius, returning from the wilds of the pinery to find the country aflame with the war-spirit, added his name to the already tremendous list, he gave no sigh. He expected, as a matter of course, if there was work to be done, all his boys would do it. And though great tears rolled down his cheeks, already thin and pallid at the rapid approach of death, those precious lives were never recalled, even to comfort his last days. The fortunes of war sent his eldest son, Cassius, back on a stretcher, with a ball in his thigh, to occupy an adjoining bed-room during his father's last days, and, with his mother and sister, to follow, on crutches, the revered form to its last resting-place. But with all the sense of personal loss, with all the frightful sense of danger to his eldest son in the Western Army, his second in the Army of the Potomac, and his third son and youngest child in the navy, now on guard below Richmond, in James River, and then participating in the siege of Charleston, his great grief, his really first thought, was for his country, - the fear that peace had fled from it for a long time, if not forever. No victories came to cheer his last days. With failing strength, and nearly extinguished tight, he went out in the darkest days of the war, just when defeat after defeat had begun to teach our armies have large a task had been undertaken. He died July 18, 1862.
Cassius Fairchild was born at Franklin Mills, now Kent, Ohio Dec. 16, 1829. He was the second son of Sally Blair and Hon. J. C. Fairchild, first treasurer of the State of Wisconsin, first mayor of the city of Madison, and a gentleman of fine ability, high character, and great prominence in the early history of the State. His mother's grandfather, Capt. George Howard, died in the service of his country just before the close of the Revolutionary War. He had been in Nova Scotia, most prosperously situated, at the Declaration of Independence, and sacrificing all his property, had hastened home to fight for his country. His mother's other grandfather, Blair, had also served with honor in the French and Indian war. The elder son died early; and the family removed to Cleveland, in 1834, where Cassius received his education, with the exception of one year spent at an academy in Twinsburg, Ohio, and a longer period, later, at the school which afterwards became Carroll College, in Waukesha, Wis. Ho learned slowly, but had an accurate and retentive memory. Fond of fun, he yet had caution and self-control; so that he never got into difficulties.
At fourteen he came to Milwaukee, with his uncle, Mr. F. J. Blair; and after his return to Cleveland, by most urgent entreaties, he obtained permission from his parents to go all the way back to Milwaukee on horseback, in company with a young man well known to them. This first taste of adventure was enjoyed by him with a keen relish, and made him feel himself a man at once.
With his uncle in Milwaukee, in school at Waukesha, in the duties and pleasures of home-life at his father's house in Madison, with an occasional business-visit to New York City, his life passed smoothly on, with no more startling incident than his repeated election as alderman (one year president of the common council), and an election, in 1859, as member of the legislature from the city of Madison.
Though previously known to most acquaintances merely as a young gentleman in society, he is said to have possessed at this time an unusual keenness and discrimination as to men, and to have so won their respect as to wield a controlling influence over many of his seniors in years and experience.
At about this time, little knowing for what they prepared themselves, some young gentlemen of the city formed a military company called the Governor's Guard. So rare was even the smallest knowledge of military tactics in the State, that nearly every member of this company took high rank, and served with distinction during the war. Among its most indefatigable members were the brothers Cassius and Lucius Fairchild.
At the breaking-out of the war, Cassius was in the wilds of the Northern Pineries, attending, with patience and tact, to a most wearing and vexatious business, in which misplaced confidence and kindness had involved his father. Immediately after his return home, he offered his services to the governor, and in October, 1801, was appointed major of the Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. In December following, he was promoted to the office of lieutenant-colonel. At the battle of Shiloh, a ball entered his thigh, so close to the hip-joint, that amputation was impossible, and all tampering dangerous. By the almost superhuman exertions of his father's friend, Judge Thomas Hood, who went for him, he was brought home on a stretcher, down the Tennessee and the Ohio, and up the Mississippi to Prairie du Chien. During eight months of emaciation and suffering, the ball and 6even pieces of his clothing remained in the wound, baffling the search of a score of surgeons. Through all this Buffering and anxious suspense, his cheerful courage and ever-flowing wit made his bedside a delight to his friends. The melancholy satisfaction of witnessing the last days of a revered and beloved father, and of sustaining his mother and sister through the bereavement, were secured to him by his prolonged suffering. The ball was found by Dr. Brainard, in December, and the foreign substances removed; but they had remained so long embedded in the bone that a new formation of bone had grown over them, and the consequent irritation was very slow to heal. He returned to the field and active service in May, while his wound still required dressing twice a day; and twice during the succeeding campaign he received injuries which opened his wound, and prostrated him upon a sick-bed. During the siege of Vicksburg, the lamented Gen. MePherson was his kind and constant friend; and Gens. Force, Belknap, and others of his companions, remember him with expressions of affectionate respect.
In March, 1804, he was appointed colonel. His regiment belonged to the Seventeenth Army Corps, which achieved such a noble record at Atlanta, and in Sherman's March to the Sea. He remained in the service to the close of the war, and, upon being mustered out, was brevetted brigadier general for gallantry.
In the summer of 1806, he was appointed United States marshal, and again removed to the city of Milwaukee, where he resided till he received a strain while acting as pall-bearer at the funeral of a friend, which caused the breaking-open of his wound, with fatal results. He died Oct. 24, 1808.
Gen. Fairchild left two brothers, Gen. Lucius Fairchild, then governor of the State, and Charles Fairchild of Boston, who had also served in the navy during the blockade of James River, and participated in the siege of Charleston. He also left one sister, and a widow, to whom he had been
married ten days before his death. He is interred in Madison.
Lucius Fairchild
Lucius FairchildThe ninth Governor of Wisconsin, Gen. Fairchild, was born on Dec. 27, 1831, at Franklin Mills, now Kent, Ohio, where his father, J. C. Fairchild, of English descent and more than ordinary natural gifts, lived in his own house, owned and managed the one store of the village, and a tannery; and, being also a Justice of the Peace, was generally known as the "Squire." The mother, Sally Blair, a young woman of fine physique, of unmixed Scotch-Irish ancestry, tempered by three generations in the romantic hills of Western Massachusetts, had great executive ability, a far-reaching hospitality, and quick, keen, good sense. With a view to the better education of their children, the family removed to Cleveland, where the boys had the unique promise from their father of a gold watch each, when they should have committed to memory the dictionary!
Needless to say the watches were never received, though there is a tradition that the book was conquered as far as the D words.Having suffered greatly from the financial crisis of 1837, the father, now known by rank in the militia as Col. Fairchild, removed with his family, in 1846, to Madison, then a small village whose singular beauty had captured him while merely passing through the Territory. In Wisconsin the education of the sons, begun in Cleveland, and aided by a year at a boarding school near that city, was supplemented by a year at Carroll College. But the impatient spirit of Lucius was not of those who take their knowledge at second hand from books. He must wring it by personal experience from the world; and so, in 1849, at seventeen years of age, he started, with a saddle horse and as many luxuries as could be crowded into a "prairie schooner," for California. This was education indeed, and he was of the few who returned after six years with a creditable "pile" of gold, and with mental, moral and physical powers unimpaired.
The firing on Ft. Sumter found the young man occupied as Clerk of the District Court of Dane County, in the performance of which duties he became sufficiently learned in the law to be admitted to the bar. His leisure was given to the enjoyment of "society," with a zest born of California deprivation; nevertheless, he responded instantly to Lincoln's call for troops, by offering his services as a private. In gratitude for the moral effect of this prompt action. Gov. Randall offered to him the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 1st Regiment. His knowledge of military matters being only that gained by belonging to the "Governors Guard" he felt himself insufficiently equipped for assuming a position so responsible. He was elected Captain of Company K, in the 1st Regiment, however, and from that his promotion was rapid.
His Colonel, a graduate of West Point, knew how things should be done, and took the professional view that it was a Lieutenant-Colonel's place to do them. The young officer eagerly availed himself of so exceptional an opportunity to become familiar with the best military methods, and wrote home to his mother: "The Army Regulations are my Bible and the tactics' my Prayer Book, which I study night and day." At Gainesville, Col. O'Connor was killed and Col. Fairchild assumed full command of the 2nd Wisconsin. The vicissitudes and heroic deeds of the Iron Brigade are familiar to all, and in these are included the history of Gen. Fairchild's military career. The battle of Gettysburg reduced the 2nd Regiment to a handful of men, whose field officers were all either killed or seriously wounded, and Col. Fairchild was carried home minus an arm.
Here followed a painful crisis in his life. During this period of enforced inactivity, he found that the political party, with which he had from youth been identified, was lukewarm to the cause which had become to him the dearest in the world. Convinced that while physically incapacitated to be in the field, he could fight as effectively under the same banner by throwing his influence with those who were making a civil struggle to push the war to a successful conclusion, he agreed to permit his name to go on the Union-Republican ticket for the office of Secretary of State. In order to do this he was compelled to give up his hard-earned rank in the army-Brigadier-General of Volunteers for gallantry at Gettysburg, and Captain in the 16th Regular Infantry, an honor awarded after Bull Run. This last being for life, would, in the regular order of promotion, have made him a Colonel only a few years later; yet he resigned them all, left the Democratic Party, joined the Union Republicans, and was elected Secretary of State on their ticket.
One term as Secretary of State, three terms as Governor-eight years in all-positions given each time by the spontaneous will of the people, leave his civil as unstained as his military record.
Devoted to the agricultural and educational interests of the State, eager in the promotion of the welfare of all classes, he gave unremittingly the very best of himself to his work. Of matters connected with the State University, his ex-officio position of regent gave an opportunity to speak with no uncertain sound, and this munificent provision of the General Government became thenceforward more and more an object of pride and fostering care to the State.
In January, 1872, he retired to private life, only to be called upon in October, by President Grant, to go as Consul at Liverpool. That this very responsible position was by him filled acceptably, in the universal record. Its duties are largely judicial-settling questions between captains and seamen, etc., and for this he was fortunately prepared by some previous knowledge of admiralty law.
At the end of five useful and pleasant years he prepared to return to his native land -indeed had sent his household goods before him-when, to his surprise, he received a commission as Consul General at Paris, where he again had a successful and honorable career. Once again, when he had decided to resign and return home, he was called by President Hayes to succeed James Russell Lowell, as Minister at the Spanish Court. This opened a new and delightful field of work and observation, but at the end of two more years he felt that he would no longer keep his children in exile, and peremptorily resigned.
On his return to Wisconsin, in March, 1882, he was welcomed by all parties and classes with an ovation of the most enthusiastic description. Since that date, while still in the full vigor of manhood, his life has been essentially that of a private citizen. Much of his time is given for the benefit of the disabled and poor comrades of the Union Army. In February, 1886, he was elected Commander of the Wisconsin department, and, in August of the same year, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. To the discharge of the duties of these offices his whole time was given during nearly two years. He is public-spirited and ready to throw himself into every effort, small or great, toward advancement; and free from the cares of public life, he finds leisure for many of the public services which belong to the private citizen. He retains his intense interest in all the political questions of the day, and in election campaigns works from Maine to Texas, at his own private expense, and with greater effect because he has no personal interest at stake.
He lives in the home built by his father forty years ago on the banks of Lake Monona, and there dispenses hospitality and makes a bright centre of cheerfulness, which spreads blessings to a wide circle. He has a charming and accomplished wife, dutiful and affectionate children, and the wisdom to know when he is happy.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara; By Acme Publishing Co., Chicago; Publ. 1889; Pgs. 156-158; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack]
Leonard James Farwell
Leonard James FarwellThis distinguished gentleman had fewer personal and political enemies than any man who ever served as Governor of the State, and he himself died without knowing exactly why it was so, or why and how he was ever made Governor. Capt. James Farwell, of Massachusetts, married Rebecca Cady, of Vermont, and settled near Watertown, N. Y., where the first fruit of this union, Leonard J., was born on Jan. 5, 1819. In 1-824, Mrs. Farwell died, and in 1830 she was followed by her husband. Thus, at the age of eleven years, Leonard was left an orphan and poor. He attended the district school until his fourteenth year, and then entered a dry-goods store. This business not suiting his tastes, he applied himself to mastering the tinner's trade, at the same time making a careful study of book-keeping and the foundation principles of trade and commerce.
In 1838, having completed his apprenticeship, young Farwell settled at Lockport, Ill., and without other capital than energy, and the tools and knowledge of his trade, opened a small tinshop and hardware store. Although he soon built up a good business he thought he could see that Lockport was not destined to become a large city, and therefore, on his twenty-first birthday, namely, Jan. 5, 1840, sold out and removed at once to Milwaukee, where he opened a general hardware store on a large scale.
Having a perfect knowledge of the details of the business, and possessing great energy and capacity, Mr. Farwell soon made his new venture a success, and in a few years, by judicious and liberal advertising, built up the largest wholesale house in Wisconsin, and perhaps the largest in the West. In 1846 he made a tour of the West Indies and on his return, having observed that the entire country was growing steadily and rapidly, purchased about one-half of what is now the city of Madison, including the water-power at the outlet of Fourth Lake.
In September 1847, he started on an extended tour of the Old World, visiting between that date and the spring of 1849, the chief points of interest in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Great Britain, contributing regularly to the Milwaukee Sentinel incidents of travel and observations upon the countries visited.
On returning from abroad, Mr. Farwell disposed of his business in Milwaukee, and began to carry into execution his plan for making a beautiful and prosperous city of Madison, the first move being to erect a saw-mill and grist-mill, so the people might have lumber and flour without traveling great distances over unimproved roads. He straightened and deepened the channel of the Catfish River, which connects Fourth and Third lakes; drained the lowlands; laid out roads and streets far into the country; built bridges and sidewalks; planted trees along the streets of his entire purchase; erected many costly buildings and graded the thoroughfares; gave the lakes the Indian names they now bear and planted their waters with new varieties of fish (some of which are now caught by the ton); established the Madison Museum; started a woolen factory and the first machine-shop and foundry; helped to build the gas works, water cure, Capitol House-in fact, either conceived or had a strong hand in building up almost everything that made Madison what it is.
As he had, in 1851, given Madison what in these days would be called a "boom," some one, it is not possible to say who, conceived the idea of nominating Mr. Farwell for Governor on the Whig ticket.
The Whigs were in a hopeless minority, and Mr. Farwell was wholly unknown in politics; indeed, very few could say positively whether he was a Whig or Democrat. His wealth, his energy, his unbounded public-spirit, and his great personal popularity, however, carried him through the convention with a hurrah. The unanimous enthusiasm of the convention became epidemic and spread over the State like a prairie fire; party lines were broken, the Democracy was demoralized, and Mr. Farwell, though all the other Whig nominees were defeated, was elected.
Thus, at the age of thirty-two, and in ten years, he had acquired a fortune, made long journeys on both hemispheres, built a city, and became chief executive of his adopted State-an unparalleled achievement.
As Governor he tried to do for the entire State what, as a private citizen, he had been doing for Madison, promote material interests in a solid and wholesome way; and though the Legislature was politically adverse, his important recommendations were all carried into effect by that body-a separate Supreme Court, a State banking system, a geological survey, an immigration agency, and other things of that sort.
Mr. Farwell did not wish to be a nominee for Governor, or to fill the office, and the committee sent to notify him of his nomination could not at first discover his whereabouts-he was in hiding. Therefore he refused to permit the use of his name a second time, and returned to his mills, real-estate, and railroad enterprises, in January, 1854.
The financial revulsion of 1857 prostrated Mr. Farwell to such an extent that he never fully recovered. His railroad investments proved particularly disastrous, though Madison property, of which he held large amounts, also became practically worthless, and so remained for years. He then retired to a farm on Lake Mendota, just outside of Madison, where he superintended the erection of the buildings for the State Asylum for Insane, but otherwise engaged in no public enterprises.
In 1859 he was elected to the State Legislature, in the hope of bringing him again into public life. In 1863 he was made Assistant Examiner in the Patent Office, and three months later Chief Examiner of new inventions, which position he resigned in 1870, for the purpose of embarking in the patent business in Chicago.
On the night of the assassination of Lincoln, Mr. Farwell was in Ford's Theatre, and from his previous information, comprehended at once that the threatened conspiracy to kill the principal officers of the administration was being carried into effect, and hastened at all speed from the theatre to the room of Vice-President Johnson, reaching there just in time to prevent Atzerot from executing that part of the terrible plot which had been assigned to him.
For thus saving his life, Mr. Johnson tendered to Mr. Farwell any position he might desire, but the offer was declined on the ground that public offices should not be used for the payment of debts of gratitude.
The great fire in Chicago in 1872, inflicted another severe financial blow upon him, and Mr. Farwell then removed to Grant City, Mo., where he was engaged in the real estate and banking business until his death on April 11, 1889, at the age of seventy years.
Gov. Farwell was an able, honest, energetic, patriotic, and useful citizen and public official, and cannot be remembered with too much kindness and gratitude by the people of Wisconsin.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara; By Acme Publishing Co., Chicago; Publ. 1889; Pgs. 128-130; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack]Dane County Wisconsin Biographies (G-Z Surnames)
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