USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of representative men of Chicago, Minnesota cities and the World's Columbian exposition : with illustrations on steel. V. 2 > Part 42
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One remarkable fact regarding Mr. Forgan's career is, that never but once did he apply for a position, that being when he entered the Bank of British North America, before leaving home. Nor has he ever asked for an increase of salary, but, as the above record will show, he was rapidly pro- moted, and during the four years he was with the
Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis his salary was annually increased, until he was in receipt of a larger salary than any other bank official in Minnesota. Mr. Forgan has accepted the proffer of the First National Bank of Chicago, and his resignation has been accepted with no little regret by the directors of the Northwestern National Bank. He will enter upon his new du- ties as soon as his successor is appointed.
On October 24, 1875, Mr. Forgan married Miss Mary E. Murray, daughter of Donald Murray, a prominent merchant of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have been blessed with five children, four of whom are living, viz. : Robert, born in 1876; Wilhelmina, born in 1878; Elizabeth Mary, born in 1883, died 1884; Donald Murray, born in 1887, and James B., Jr., born in 1890. Mr. Forgan is a man of domestic tastes, and in his happy home, surrounded by his charming wife and bright, happy children, he finds his greatest enjoyment. Socially he is much esteemed, and was president of the Caledonia Club of Minneapolis. In relig- ious faith he is a Presbyterian ; politically he is an independent Democrat.
Such is the biography of one who has led an active, honorable life, which has certainly wrought its own reward. His record is remarkable and his success deserved, and it certainly must cause the most retiring of men to feel a justifiable pride in knowing that his success in life is entirely due to his own exertions, combined with a respect for honor and integrity, without which success can- not be achieved.
WILLIAM H. EUSTIS,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
W ILLIAM H. EUSTIS is a native of Jeffer- son county, New York, and was born on July 17, 1845. His father, Tobias Eustis, was a native of Truro, Cornwall, England, and immi- grated to the United States in 1839. His moth- er, Mary, daughter of William Markwick, an Englishman from the county of Kent, was born in this country.
During William's childhood his parents re- moved to Hammond, St. Lawrence county, New York, where the family has since resided, the
father devoting himself to his trade, that of a wheelwright. Ill health during his younger days prevented the son from being apprenticed to some trade or mechanical pursuit. He attended the common schools, and in 1865 left home and attended the Wesleyan seminary at Gouverneur, New York, and was graduated therefrom in 1870. The following year he entered Wesleyan Univer- sity at Middletown, Connecticut, and was gradu- ated from that institution in 1873; and from the Columbia Law School of New York city in 1874,
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and in May of the same year he was admitted to J. S. Pillsbury and Wm. Regan. They went right the New York bar.
The hard work of his early life prepared a foundation for his future prosperity. He strug- gled for years to obtain an education. Diligent to improve his opportunities, he never allowed a legitimate chance for improvement to escape him.
In 1875 Mr. Eustis formed a partnership with Mr. John R. Putnam, now a judge of the New York Supreme Court, at Saratoga Springs, New York. He continued in Saratoga until 1881, during which year he made a European tour of several months, and upon his return in October of that year, he removed to Minneapolis, and there resumed the practice of the law, meeting with deserved success. He also became exten- sively engaged in business outside of his pro- fession, and all his efforts have been rewarded.
He has always been a warm friend of the city of his adoption, and held himself ready to help any movement beneficial to her interests. On the 18th of May, 1891, at a regular meeting of the Union League Club of Minneapolis, Mr. Eustis moved that suitable and proper action be taken by the club to have the Republican Nation- al Convention held in Minneapolis, and was made chairman of a committee of nine to further the object. From that time until he saw his hopes in that direction realized, he spared neither time, energy nor money to accomplish his purpose, and it is but just to attribute to his untiring zeal and work, in large measure, the success that at- tended the committee's efforts, and the honor thereby reflected upon Minneapolis and the north- west. Concerning this, the Minneapolis Tribune said : "Minnie gets the bun. She walks off with the lion's share of the Thanksgiving wishbone. She has her wish but she worked for it. Mem- bers of the Washington delegation can have any- thing they want. Nothing is too good for them, for they have secured for Minneapolis the great- est honor she has ever had. Not only is it the greatest honor, but it will be of more material benefit than any similar event ever held here.
" At the May meeting of the Union League W. H. Eustis moved that a committee be appointed to canvass the matter and see what feeling existed among other organizations of the city. The com- mittee consisted of Wm. H. Eustis, John Good- now, J. W. Nash, R. J. Evans, C. W. Johnson,
to work and by the last of May a great deal of enthusiasm was worked up. The Business Men's Union, the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce had all appointed committees to act in conjunction with the Union League committee.
" No one will begrudge William Henry Eustis the lion's share of the honor. He has worked early and late getting hold of prominent people, catching big subscriptions, in short, infusing life into the whole scheme.
" The man who deserves the greatest credit in this matter is W. H. Eustis, says John Goodnow. He stuck to it when everybody laughed at him ; he raised the money when it was declared to be an impossibility ; he saw the policy of it from the beginning. To him is due the greatest meed of praise. The political and financial advantages of holding the convention are great."
The following is from Kate Field's Washing- tonian of December 2, 1891 : " Minneapolis was fortunate in her delegation. Men like Senator Washburne, Governor Merriam, Thomas Lowry, Geo. A. Brackett, and others of equal persuasive- ness and popularity, are likely to carry conviction to impartial ears. William Henry Eustis, who raised the Minneapolis guarantee, and who came to Washington with victory in his eye, would alone have converted stones to his way of think- ing. While Minneapolis rejoiced in its harvest festival, this wily gentleman was intent upon having the northwest not only provide the world with food, but capture this National Convention. Even I came within the magic of his spell, and soon succumbed. That was ten weeks ago. Think what momentum his eloquence must have since attained ! Who, then, should be surprised at the result ? "
The following tribute to Mr. Eustis is by one of his contemporaries : " Mr. Eustis is an able lawyer, well versed in all branches of his profes- sion. He is lucid, logical and eminently practical in making application of the law to the fact. Having excellent judgment and quickness of per- ception, he grasps the pivotal points of a question with great ease. He is a fluent, graceful speaker, with perfect command of the English language. He is remarkable for accuracy and a conscientious regard for the interest of his client, and there are few lawyers on whose conclusions and opinions
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greater reliance can be placed. He has great versatility of talents, and manifests great tact in the management of his cases and skill in eliciting evidence."
Mr. Eustis was unanimously elected by the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota, as a delegate to the National Republican Convention, held at Minneapolis on the 7th day of June, 1892, and on the 9th day of September following, he was nominated by the Republican City Conven- tion for the office of Mayor of the city of Min- neapolis.
Mr. Eustis is pre-eminently a self-made man,
who, without capital or influential friends, by force of his energetic perserverance, has over- come all obstacles and placed himself in the front rank of his profession, and at the same time has succeeded in business matters outside of his profession, and in a pecuniary sense has been bountifully rewarded.
He has a polite and pleasing address and agree- able manners, is genial, of excellent address, suave and cordial in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and by his upright, manly conduct holds the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is, in a word, a manly man.
HON. WILLIAM R. MERRIAM,
ST. PAUL, MINN.
W HEN the future historian shall search the records made in the nineteenth century, he will finds the achievements of its young men one of the marvels of the age. The present generation has witnessed the most wonderful de- velopment of the great northwest known in the history of the world. Great cities have sprung up on its rich prairies and fertile valleys as if by magic.
The State of Minnesota takes front rank among the great commonwealths of America, and is justly proud of her resources and people. To guide the ship of state in such a favored country is worthy the ambition of any man. To reach such a goal, even before the noon-tide of life, is an honor with but few parallels. This is a progressive age, and the influence of young men is felt as never be- fore ; the poeple of Minnesota chose wisely when they elected William R. Merriam their governor.
He comes of a distinguished ancestry, who settled in Concord, New Hampshire, long before Minnesota was known to any but the red man. His father, the Hon. John L. Merriam, lived at Wadham's Mills, Essex county, New York, where William was born in July, 1849. At that time Mr. John L. Merriam was a merchant, and he conducted a number of mercantile enterprises with varying success until 1861, when he removed with his family to Minnesota. In connection with Mr. J. C. Burbank, he engaged in the stage and transportation business. As railroads were then unkown in the northwest, their business became
an extensive one, and Mr. Merriam became iden- tified with many enterprises for the development of the state. He also took an interest in politics. He served in the state legislature and was speaker of the house of representatives in 1870 and 1871. Governor William was a precocious boy, full of life and fond of boyish sports. At the age of fifteen he entered the academy at Racine, Wisconsin, and later the college at that place. At college he was a leader; in scholarship he stood at the head of his classes, and at college sports he was always in the lead. Upon his graduation in 1871, he was chosen valedictorian, and acquitted himself with honor. His business career commenced soon after his graduation, when he entered the First National Bank of St. Paul as a clerk. Here his merit was readily apparent ; though a young man, only twenty-four years of age, he was elected cashier of the Merchants' National Bank in 1873. But the rising tide of a brilliant young man could not stop here, and Mr. Merriam's diligence, keenness and foresight were again recognized, and he was made vice-president of the Merchants' Bank in 1880, and two years later became its president.
He early took great interest in politics, and be- came an important factor in every political cam- paign, and was elected to represent his district in the general assembly of Minnesota in 1882 and 1883. He was an ardent Republican, but the in- terests of the state were, to him, paramount to
William Peterin
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everything else, and he became known as an active, earnest worker. In 1886 he was again elected to the state assembly and was chosen speaker, where his father had presided sixteen years before. As speaker of the house he in- augurated many reforms, and made an admirable presiding officer. He was self-possessed, courteous and firm, while his quick preception enabled him to rule with tact.
Being a large land-owner, and intimately ac- quainted with the needs of the farmer, his services in their behalf, while in the legislature, and his large interests and executive ability, caused him to be chosen vice-president of the State Agricul- tural Society in 1886, and president in 1887, and to his efforts the success of the State Fair was largely due. In 1888 he was nominated by the Republican party, as its candidate for governor, against the Hon. E. M. Wilson, Democrat, and was elected by a large majority. His message to the legislature is regarded as a document worthy of any stateman.
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Applying his thorough business methods to the
administration of state affairs, Governor Merriam, has always been prompt to act, thorough in his in- vestigations, efficient in all his undertakings. His shrewdness, sound judgment and great deter- mination, make him a most admirable executive officer. Governor Merriam was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1890. His promptness in · suppressing the Hall-Fitzsimons prize-fight won for him the admiration of all law-abiding citizens of the United States. Personally, Governor Merriam is of more than pleasing address and magnetic cordiality. He married in 1872, Miss Hancock, a niece of General W. S. Hancock. Mrs. Merriam is a lady of rich attainments, and does honor to her eminent husband, over whose home she presides with dignity and grace. Such is the career, briefly stated, of a young citizen of Minnesota, who has served his state well, and who has recognized the broader claims of human- ity by giving of his substance to all worthy objects of charity, and his moral support to all institu- tions that have for their purposes the elevation of the race.
JAMES T. WYMAN,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
AMES T. WYMAN, son of John and Clarinda J (Tolman) Wyman, was born in Millbridge, Maine, on October 15, 1849. His education was obtained in the public schools, supplemented by a two years' course in Carleton College of North- field, Minnesota.
In 1870 he began his career as a manufacturer in connection with his brother, John F. Wyman, and E. C. Dwinnell, under the style of Dwinnell and Wyman, manufacturers of sashes, doors and blinds. In 1871 their mill was burned, and young Wyman removed to Minneapolis, where he be- came superintendent of the business of Messrs. Smith and Parker, sash and door manufacturers. After remaining in their employ four years he was admitted as a partner of the firm, the name becoming Smith, Parker and Company.
In 1882 Mr. J. G. Smith and Mr. L. D. Parker withdrew from the firm, and Mr. H. Alden Smith and Mr. Wyman continued the business under the name of Smith and Wyman. Their business,
which is rapidly increasing, extends throughout the northwestern states, and to the Pacific Coast; and it is but due Mr. Wyman to say that its present prosperous condition is in no small meas- ure due to his superior business ability.
In 1889 Mr. Wyman assisted materially in organizing the Metropolitan Bank of Minneapolis, and was elected its vice-president ; and in 1890 he became its president. This institution, the suc- cess of which is largely due to his efforts, has al- ways paid eight per cent. dividends on its stock.
Mr. Wyman has the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, and has attained to a position of prominence, unusual for so young a man. For several years he was chairman of the committee on manufactures in the Board of Trade, and was largely instrumental in securing the location of several large manufacturing institutions in Min- neapolis. In 1888 he was elected president of the Board of Trade, and re-elected in 1889; but declined a third re-election in 1890.
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Politically Mr. Wyman is a zealous Republican, and has always been an active worker in political campaigns. In 1884 a petition requesting him to be a candidate for the mayorality, signed by eighteen hundred of his fellow-citizens, was pre- sented to him, but he declined to enter the con- test. He has always been active in matters tend- ing to advance the interests of his city, and is a director of the Business Union, of which he was one of the original promoters.
In religious, educational and charitable institu- tions he has always taken an active interest. In 1882 he was elected a trustee of Hamline Univer- sity, and in 1888 was elected vice-president of its Board of Trustees. He assisted in organizing the Associated Charities, and for two years after its organization he was president, and is now vice- president of the association. The Hennepin Ave- nue Methodist Church, of which he is a trustee, counts him as one of its most active members, and he assists both with his money and influence, any means that will advance the cause of religion.
In 1873 Mr. Wyman married Miss Rosetta Lamberson, only daughter of Rev. John Lamber- son, a Methodist minister. This union is blessed with six children, viz .: Roy L., aged sixteen, Guy A., fourteen ; Grace A., thirteen ; James C., twelve ; Maud E., ten and Earl F., six years old. He is domestic in his tastes, and in the circle of his home, in the society of his children and the companionship of his loving wife, who is in entire sympathy with all of his acts, he finds his highest enjoyment.
Such is the biography of one of the most am- bitious and enterprising of the energetic residents of this hustling city of Minneapolis. There is no man in the city who will labor more for the wel- fare of the city than he will. He is an enthusiast about everything with which he becomes asso- ciated, and as one of his fellow-citizens puts it : " If you desire any worthy object to be carried enthusiastically, all you have to do is to enlist J. T. Wyman in the cause, and he will push it through."
HON. WARREN HEWITT MEAD,
ST. PAUL, MINN.
W ARREN HEWITT MEAD was born at Genoa, Cayuga county, New York, in 1836, a son of Lockwood Mead, also a native of Genoa, whose father, Hewitt Mead, had settled there a few years after the close of the Revolutionary war, having removed thither from Fairfield county, Connecticut. Hewitt Mead was a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812, and died in the service at Sackett's Harbor, New York.
The progenitor of the Mead family in America was William Mead, who, at a very early period, probably about 1635, came from England and settled at the present site of Greenwich, Connecti- cut. Some of the older members of the family were prominent and distinguished characters in colonial history. Rev. Solomon Mead, who was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1774, was a noted Presbyterian clergyman, renowned as well for his general learning and ripe scholarship as for his theological attainments. General John Mead was a brigadier general of the Continental
army during the war for independence, and dis- tinguished himself, particularly under Washing- ton, in engagements with the British about New York.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Susan Miller. She was a native of New York, but her father, Peter Miller, was a Pennsyl- vanian, and of a sturdy, honest Pennsylvania- German stock.
Our subject was raised in his native county, and received a liberal education. He was gradu- ated from Cazenovia Seminary in 1857, and in the September following went to Kentucky and en- gaged in teaching. He was three years teacher of languages in Bradfordsville Institute, located at Bradfordsville. He remained there until the school was broken up by the disturbed condition of affairs in that region incident to the civil war. Mr. Mead was a soldier in the Union army, and his term of service was one of great peril, expos- ure and suffering, which strained even his superior powers of endurance, and seriously impaired his
Warren MG. Mead
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health for life. In the summer of 1862 he assisted in recruiting the Sixth Regiment Kentucky Vol- unteers, cavalry, and was commissioned first lieutenant of Company " F." He participated in various campaigns in Kentucky and Tennessee during the latter part of that year and the first months of 1863, and in the summer of the latter year was under General Rosecrans in the move- ments of that distinguished commander against the rebels under General Bragg.
On one occasion at Franklin, Tennessee, he captured two noted and very dangerous rebel spies, whom he turned over to the proper authori- ties, and who were afterwards executed. In the last day's fight at the desperate and memorable battle of Chickamauga, September 23, 1863, while with his command at Pond Springs, Lieutenant Mead was made a prisoner, and was held by the enemy more than eighteen months, a greater part of the time within walls in close confinement. He took all of the degrees and graduated from nearly every noted rebel prison in the Confederacy. He was several months at Macon, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina, and eight months in the famous Libby Prison at Richmond, Virginia. He was among the Federal officers held as prison- ers of war, who, in 1864, were placed by the Con- federates under the fire of the Union General Gilmore's guns, then bombarding the city of Charleston, South Carolina, from the islands of the harbor. For three months shot and shell from the federal cannon fell around his quarters day and night. In the meantime, to add to his other experience, he endured an attack of yellow fever in a prison hospital. On February 14, 1865, while being transferred by rail from Columbia, South Carolina, on the approach of General Sher- man's army to that city, and while near Wines- boro, South Carolina, he and a few of his com- rades contrived to escape through a hole, which they cut with pen-knives, through the floor of the freight car in which they were riding. After wandering almost aimlessly about for a day or two he was recaptured by a scouting party of Confederate cavalry, and taken to the headquar- ters of General Joe Wheeler. Tired, half-starved, and, in the month of February, his clothes hang- ing in rags and tatters from his emaciated limbs, his condition excited the commiseration of a Con- federate officer from Kentucky, who gave him a
full suit of Confederate gray clothes, coarse, but fairly comfortable. In this garb, accompanied by a brother officer similarly attired, he again escaped a few nights later, by running the rebel guards, and after weary and perilous journeys through the Carolina swamps, he finally reached the Union forces under General Sherman, then on the march through North Carolina. A few months later, May 15, he was enabled to join his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, and was mus- tered out of service July 14 following.
After the close of his military service, Mr. Mead completed a course of legal study, which he had pursued at intervals for a considerable . period, a part of the time while a captive at Libby Prison, and was admitted to the bar in Louis- ville, Kentucky, in December, 1865. Soon after- wards he returned to his old home in New York, where he spent a brief season.
In the spring of 1866, after his marriage, he went to Northfield, Minnesota, where he prac- ticed law about three years.
In 1870 Mr. Mead removed to St. Paul and opened a law office, and has been engaged in a general practice with uniform success. He is regarded as a careful, painstaking lawyer, very capable and thorough. He is counsel for some of the most important corporations and firms in Minnesota, and his entire time is occupied in his business.
By certain timely and fortunate investments, he has acquired large and valuable property inter- ests in Minnesota, and he has gained. a hand- some competence, which he wisely enjoys and prudently directs.
Plain and unassuming, neither seeking nor de- siring notoriety of any sort, Mr. Mead is recog- nized by his fellow-citizens as a gentleman of worth and influence.
In 1877 he was elected to the state legisla- ture for one year, and 1878 he was re-elected for a term of two years, and rendered efficient service as a legislator. He has ever since avoided public life, and devoted himself to his profession. He has, however, taken a little time for relaxation, and has visited Europe and various parts of his own country, and has a good knowledge of the world and its ways.
Mr. Mead is a zealous member of the Presbyte- rian Church, and an unpretending Christian gen-
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tleman. He is a teetotaler and an earnest advo- cate of temperance reform.
In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Minnesota Loyal Legion.
Mr. Mead married on March 7, 1866, Miss Frances A. Hughes, daughter of the late Henry C. Hughes, of Geddes, New York. Mrs. Mead's family is well known throughout central New
York, and some of her ancestors were members of the noted Loomis family of Connecticut.
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