USA > Wisconsin > A political history of Wisconsin > Part 31
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
HENRY C. ADAMS .:
Henry C. Adams was born in Verona, Oneida county. New York. November 28, 1850, and came to Wisconsin during his nonage, going to work upon a farm. Like Abraham Lincoln, he had a thirst for knowledge which led him to give his spare hours to study. When opportunity offered. he took a year's course at Albion Academy, followed by three years at the State University. After leaving the university he established himself in the dairy and fruit business near Madison, in which he continued till 1889. when he became interested in real estate. A Republican from the time he was old enough to vote, he began to be active in campaign
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work in 18So, and has taken an energetic part in every important canvass since. In 1883 and 1885 he was a member of the lower house of the Legislature. In 1889 Gov. Hoard made him Super- intendent of Public Property, in which capacity he served for two years. Upon the accession of Gov. Upham, Mr. Adams was appointed State Dairy and Food Commissioner, and reappointed by Gov. Scofield. In this office he has done excellent work for all those interested in dairying and in pure food, among the lat- ter of which should be classed every individual. Mr. Adams is an educated man and a practical farmer, and thus well equipped for the responsible duties which he has to discharge. His knowl- edge of all the departments of farm work, and his interest in them, rendered his appointment peculiarly acceptable to all who are inter- ested in any way in agricultural matters. He was engaged in farm institute work for three years, and was one of the most popu- lar and successful conductors engaged in that work. He was Secretary of the State Horticultural Society for two years, Presi- dent of the State Dairymen's Association for three years, and men- ber of the State Board of Agriculture for eight years. He has been efficient in enforcing the provisions of the law against food adulterations, especially those relating to the products of the farm and the dairy; and it was due in no small measure to his efforts that this law was enacted. He was one of the committee of the National Dairy Union which went to Washington and did effective work in behalf of the bill against filled cheese. Mr. Adams has . been a member of many State and Congressional conventions, and was a delegate-at-large to the National Convention in ISSS. He is a man of great energy. a clear, forcible and even eloquent speaker on political questions, and in the controversy over the currency in 1896 was an effective speaker against the theory of the free coin- age of silver. Mr. Adams was married. in 1878, to Anna B. Nor- ton of Madison. They have four children-two boys and two girls.
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THOMAS FRANCIS FRAWLEY.
Without holding office a man may be conspicuous and indu- ential in the political life of a State, and deserve an honorable place in its political history. Such a place is justly assigned to Thomas Francis Frawley, of Eau Claire. He was born March 6, 1851, near Troy, New York, the son of Thomas and Honora Hogan Frawley. Early in the fifties the family removed to Wis- consin, settling on a farm in the town of Vermont, Dane county. Here began- young Frawley's education in the district school. His summers, when he became old enough to work, were devoted to manual labor on the farm, and his winters to study. After a course in Albion Academy, he entered the University of Wiscon- sin, in the spring of 1872, in the last term of the freshman year. Paying his way by teaching school, he worked through the uni- versity, and was graduated with the class of 1875. While in the university he was a member of the Athenian Society, and partici- pated in its joint debate in 1874. From September. 1875. to June, : ISSo, he was principal of one of the High schools of Eau Claire, : studying law during his spare hours. In 18So he received the Master's degree from the university, and in the same year was admitted to the bar and began the practice of the law, in which his brilliant ability has won him clients, remuneration and honor. Politically, Mr. Frawley is a Democrat, and for years has been prominent and influential in the councils of the party. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in St. Louis in 1888. In 1892 he made an omnibus speech, upon which the Democratic incumbents of the State offices were nominated for reelection. For many years, down to 1896. he was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and in the last named year he presided at the State convention in Milwaukee, which met for the selection of delegates to the National Democratic Conven- tion at Chicago. Upon taking the chair as presiding officer of the convention, he made an ciaborate and able speech in regard . to what should be the policy of the party, and especially against the adoption of the free coinage of silver in the platform. This speech had much influence in the convention, and largely shaped its official declaration. When it was found that the Chicago
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convention platform favored the "free silver" policy, he repudiated it, resigned his membership in the State Central Committee and was chosen a member of the National or Gold Democratic. State . Central Committee. He was for ten years a member and for sev- cral years president of the Common Council of Eau Claire, and for many years a member of the Board of Education of that city. He is also President of the Eau Claire County Bar Association. In religion he is a Roman Catholic. Mr. Frawley was married in August, 1877, to Miss Lydia A. Lawler. They have one child living, Thomas F. Frawley, Jr.
IRA B. BRADFORD.
Ira B. Bradford is a native of Wisconsin, born in the Town of Fulton, Rock county, on the 24th day of June, 1851. He is the son of Elbridge Bradford, a native of New Hampshire, and a descendant of Gov. William Bradford. The elder Bradford came to Wisconsin in April, 1851. In August of the same year he returned with his family to Washington, New Hampshire, where the subject of this sketch was reared and received an academic education among the sturdy, even-going people of the "Old Gran- ite State." When out of school he followed his father's trade as a carpenter, being accustomed to work from childhood. At six- teen years of age he commenced teaching school and taught and attended school until the fall of 1869, when he went to Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and soon after commenced to study law, which he continued, teaching winters, in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. until February, 1873, when he came to Janesville, Wiscons'n, and on the 3d day of March following was admitted to the bar at Monroe, Wis., and settled at once in Augusta, where he has ever since continued to reside. In politics he has always been a Repub- lican. He was elected to the Assembly in 18So, and again in 1881. at which session he was elected Speaker. . At the close of his term of office he declined further political advancement and retired . from the political field, and has ever since devoted his time to his private business, serving, however, as the first Mayor of the City of Augusta in 1885. Being in rather delicate health some years
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ago, Mr. Bradford was obliged to relinquish the active practice of Iris profession, and embarked quite extensively upon farming. This brought him in close touch with the problems of agricultural life, both as to production and transportation, and allied him very closely with our rural population. Mr. Bradford's election to the kgislative Speakerslip was a distinctive victory for the younger element of the Republican party. He triumphed so gracefully and filled the high position so acceptably, that the young men all over the commonwealth felt proud of him as their leader, so much so, in fact, that though now he has passed a little beyond their meridian in years-though not in spirit-the young Republicans still look upon him as one of their number, and his elevation to the Governorship is generally regarded as a possibility in the near future.
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; ELLIS B. USHER.
Ellis B. Usher was born June 21, 1852, in the Town of Bux- con, York county, Maine. His father, Isaac L. U'sher, came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1855 as the agent of Washburn & Woodman, of Mineral Point, bringing his family, which then con- sisted of his wife and son. Cyrus Woodman was the brother of Mrs. Usher. After spending the winter in Clark county, the family settled in La Crosse county in the spring of 1856, where E. B. Usher has ever since lived. 'Isaac L. Usher was an Aboli- tionist and a prominent Republican, serving one term as Sheriff. and being prominently mentioned for Congress in the sixties. In 1877 Ellis B. Usher's first vote was cast for C. C. Washburn for Governor. April 1, 1875. he bought a half interest in The La Crosse Liberal Democrat of John Symes. July 30. 1878. Robert Howard bought out Mr. Symes. November 1. 1879. the firm of Usher & Howard dissolved. and Mr. U'sher has since been sole proprietor and editor of the paper. For ten years his father assisted in the editorial work. October 6. 1809. The Chronicle Publishing Company was organized, and Mr. Usher continues as the principal stockholler and editor. Mr. Usher's first Demo- cratic ticket and first vote for President was cast for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, since which time the only Republican ballot he has
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ever cast was in ISOS. for the State ticket. He was chosen chair- man of the Democratic State Central Committee March 30, ISS,, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of W. A. Walker. He conducted the campaign of 1888 and was reelected chairman ior the term of two years that would have expired December 31, 1890, but on January 15. 1890. he resigned and was succeeded by E. C. Wall. In 1896 Mr. Usher was one of the first men in the country to denounce the Chicago convention. He telegraphed to Gen. E. S. Bragg, one. of Wisconsin's delegates-at-large to Chicago, on july 9, the day before Bryan's nomination, as follows: "Don't let the starting of an independent gold movement wait a month nor a minute. It must be done before you leave Chicago." To The Evening Wisconsin Mr. Usher said, on July 9, the day the Chi- cago platform was adopted: "If the platform of the Chicago con- vention is Democratic, then I have utterly failed to understand Democracy, and never was a Democrat, am not now and never can be." Mr. Usher was one of the twenty-three men who met at the Auditorium in Chicago July 23d and started the Indianapolis movement. Senator Vilas, Gen. Bragg and Mr. Usher repre- sented Wisconsin in that conference. Mr. Usher was appointed. provisional National Committeeman for Wisconsin. He organ- ized the State Convention of Gold Democrats that met August 26, in Milwaukee, nearly 500 strong, and sent the four delegates- at-large and seven of the District delegates who had attended the Chicago convention back to Indianapolis, a record not equaled by any other State. Mr. Usher was chosen Chairman of the Gold Democratic State Central Committee and, at Indianapolis, he was made National Committeeman. He was one of the signers of the address to. the country calling the Indianapolis convention. Mr. Usher, on October 9. resigned both of these positions and announced that he would hereafter act with the Republican party, Mr. Usher has never held an appointive or an elective office. He declined the chief clerkship of the Postoffice Department in 1885 ... and a consulate in ISS7. He was urged to take the La Crosse postoffice in 1803. but refused it. He has never desired office, . and the committee positions he has held have been forced upon him against his protest in both cases, and in both cases he resigned before his term expired. .
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HENRY ALLEN COOPER.
Henry Allen Cooper was born in Walworth county, Wascon- . sin, and is a graduate of the Northwestern University at Evanston and the Union College of Law at Chicago, his diploma from the latter institution bearing date of 1875. He established himself in practice at Racine, where, in 1880. he was elected District Attor- ney, being reelected without opposition in 1882 and 1884. In 1886 and 1887 he was a member of the School Board, and in 1887 he was chosen to represent his district in the State Senate. When, in 1896, he was elected to Congress for the third time his plurality was nearly as large as the whole vote for his Democratic oppo- nent. The poll stood: Cooper, Rep., 28,235; Mahoney, Dem., 14.723; White, Pro., 1,084. On the Pacific coast Representative Cooper is regarded as one of the best men in Congress. No other Congressman from the east of the Rockies has been so frequently as he the subject of glowingly eulogistic notices in the San Fran- cisco newspapers. If he should change his residence to California he would have a first-class chance of being returned to Washing- ton as a member of the United States Senate. The thing that has endeared Mr. Cooper to the Golden West is his attitude toward the Pacific railroads. In the Fifty-third Congress he defeated the Pacific railroad refunding bill by a single speech on the floor of the House, in spite of the efforts of Huntington and a number of other transportation kings, who were at work day and night, reenforced by a powerful lobby. While this achieve- ment won for Mr. Cooper the gratitude of the masses in California. it lost for him. in the following Congress, his place on the Pacific Railroads committee, and he has ever since been in the bad books of the railroad lobby, who have never lost a chance to pound him. Personally Mr. Cooper is very popular in Washington, especially with the younger element. In 1898 his Democratie opponent for Congressional honors was Clinton Babbitt, while John C. Huff- man ran against him on the Prohibition ticket, but Mr. Cooper was reelected by a plurality of 8.440.
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J. E. JONES.
One of the young men of Wisconsin who has taken much interest in political affairs. and who possesses the confidence of the people wherever known, is J. E. Jones, editor of The Portage Daily Democrat, who is at the present time serving his second term as Mayor of Portage. Mr. Jones is an ardent Democrat, but always conservative and cool-headed. He was for several years a miem- ber of the Democratic State Central Committee, and has been Chairman of the Columbia County Democratic Committee for fif- teen years. He was Postmaster at Portage during Cleveland's first term, and in 1893 was appointed by Gov. Peck a member of the State Board of Control, soon afterward becoming President of that body. In ISOS he was the Democratic candidate for Con- gress in the Second District, comprising the counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge and Jefferson, but was defeated by a slight major- ity. He has been editor and proprietor of The Portage Demo- crat since 18SI, a paper whose editorial utterances are always fear- less and plain-spoken. Mr. Jones was born on a farm in the Town of Packwaukee, Marquette county, November 16. 1854, and has always been a resident of the State. He secured his education in the common schools, supplementing that with two years at the · Oshkosh Normal, after which he taught six terms before entering the newspaper business. He was married January 25. 1882, to Miss Lena L. Converse, and they have three children, Edwin C., Carol and Marjorie.
GEORGE WILLIAM TAYLOR. 1
George William Taylor, the energetic Secretary of the Wis- consin State Board of Immigration, was born at Wenham, Massa- chusetts, March 31, 1855, the son of Rev. Jeremiah Taylor and his wife, Elizabeth, nee Pride. Rev. Jeremiah Taylor is the Eastern Secretary of the American Tract Society, whose office is in Boston. He is a lineal descendant on the maternal side of John Alden, of Mayflower fame. Elizabeth Pride is the daughter of William Pride. who was the first missionary sent to the Indians by the American and Foreign Christian Union. She is the granddaughter of Reu-
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ben Pride of Norwich, Connecticut, who marched to the relief of Boston at the time of the Lexington alarm, in 1775. He served an an officer in the Continental army until retired by Act of Con- gress in 1782. G. W. Taylor was educated in the common schools and the High schools of Middletown and Hartford, Conn. He was fitted to enter Yale College, but, preferring a business career; abandoned the idea of taking a college course, and engaged in the lumber business in Providence, R. I., in 1872. Four years there- after he removed to Chicago, where he was in the same business for twelve years. In ISSS he came to Wisconsin, settling first in Oconto, and two years later taking up his residence in Marinette, where he now resides, and where he has been actively engaged in dealing in lumber, logs, pine and mineral lands. Mr. Taylor is a Republican in politics, and as such was elected to the Assembly of 1895 and reelected to that of 1897. During his first session he served on the committees on railroads and lumber and mining. In the second session he was Chairman of the Committee on Mili- tary Affairs and was again a member of the committee on railroads. He was an active and efficient legislator. He received his appoint- ment to the Secretaryship of the State Board of Immigration from Gov. Scofield early in the present year, and has performed notably · effective work attracting attention to the advantages of Northern Wisconsin and turning a tide of settlers in that direction. Mr. Tay- lor is a Knight of Pythias, a Mason, a member of the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a member of the First Presbyterian church of Chicago. He was married in March, 1882, to Ella Francis Case of Chicago, and they have had two children-George Irving, who died at the age of eight months, and Jolin Case, who is thirteen years old.
DAVID STUART ROSE. 1
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David Stuart Rose, Mayor of Milwaukee, and ex-Judge of the . County Court of Lafayette county, was born at Darlington, Wis- consin, June 30, 1856. His father, Jas. R. Rose, who was of Scotch descent. received his education at the Albany Academy, New York. practiced law in that city, and hield the offices of city attorney, chici (31)
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clerk of the Assembly and attorney for the State Canal Commis- sioners. He was an active Democrat, and a member of the cele- brated Albany Regency. In 1852 he came to Wisconsin and set- tled at Darlington, where he formed a law partnership with Judge Cothren, which continued for some years, to the advantage of both. At Darlington he married Phoebe Anna Budlong. a young lady of German descent, who, with her parents, had removed to Wisconsin from Watertown, New York, after being graduated from the Nor- mal school at Albany, and who was the mother of the subject of the present sketch. The latter received his education in the com- mon schools and the Darlington high school, leaving which at the age of fourteen he served a three years' apprenticeship to the print- ers' trade. At the age of seventeen he began the study of law in the office of Cothren & Rose at Darlington; and, while pursuing his legal studies, he taught school for three consecutive winters, but, on June 30th, 1876. he was admitted to the bar, and immedi- ately began practice, which he has continued uninterruptedly to : the present time. The most important criminal cases in which he has been employed as counsel for the defense, were the following: · State of Wisconsin vs. Meighan et al., tried in the circuit court of La Fayette county, March, 1892, for the murder of Anton Sieboldit by lynching. There were seven defendants, and all were acquitted upon the special plea of insanity; and the State of Wisconsin os. Robert Luscombe, tried in the municipal court of Milwaukee coun- ty, July, 1895, for the murder of Emil Sanger. In civil practice he has been retained, in many cases involving corporation and com- mercial law. He was attorney for Mayor P. J. Somers in the trial for impeachment brought by Garrett Dunck against that official: and for John Fitzer, who contested the seat of Edward Scofield in the State Senate in ISot. In all of these cases he was successful in behalf of Ifs clients. In 1888 Mr. Rose gave up his practice in Darlington and removed to Milwaukee, where he soon built up a large and lucrative business in the law. He was elected Mayor of Darlington in 1883, and reelected in 1884. In the same year he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago. In 1885 he was elected County Judge of La Fayette county, and served three years. Some two years after removing to Milwaukee.
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or in 1890, he was an independent candidate for City Attorney, but was defeated. In 1894 he was the Democratic candidate for Con- gress in the Fourth District, but that was a year of Republican as- cendancy, and Judge Rose was defeated by Theobald Otjen. In 1898 Judge Rose was nominated by the Democrats for the office of Mayor of Milwaukee, his Republican opponent being William Geuder. At the preceding city election the Republicans had! carried the city by 2.540 votes, but Judge Rose reversed the situa- tion, and was elected by a plurality of 8,012. His energetic admin - istration has attracted wide attention. He has been called into the national councils of his party, and his name, though without his consent, is among those mentioned for the Vice-Presidential nom- ination of 1900. Judge Rose is a niember of the Knights of Pyth- .. ias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Heptasophs, Fraternal Alliance, and the Bon Ami and Deutscher clubs. In September, 1887. he was married to Marga- ret E. Blakely.
WILLIAM GEORGE BRUCE.
There is a useful and honorable class of men conspicuous in politics who do not hold office. A well-known representative of this class is William George Bruce, who has labored zealously in the Democratic organization during the past fifteen years. Mr. Bruce's connection with party affairs began in 1885. He became a member of the Jackson Club, then flourishing on the South Side. and soon thereafter was made its President. Later he was elected President of the Jefferson Club. which position he hekl for four terms. In 1896 he was elected Chairman of the Democratic Coun- ty Committee, and was reelected in 1898. None of these positions was sought by him, and to cach he was elected unanimously. In 1888 he was elected a member of the Milwaukee School Board, and was appointed for a second term three years later. In 1894 he permitted the use of his name as a candidate for State Sen- ator in an overwhelmingly Republican district, and at a time when Democratic defeat was doubly certain. In 186, when great doubt existed as to the position the Democracy in Wisconsin would take
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on the money question, he took a leading part in swinging the Jef- ferson Club to the support of the Chicago platform, thereby largely influencing the regular party organization. He was then, as he is now, an enthusiastic bimetallist. In the spring of 1898 he managed the muncipal campaign. and achieved the largest majority ever accorded any political party in Milwaukee. He introduced business methods in the affairs of the party, and brought about a thorough reorganization. Mr. Bruce is a close student of political economy and a strong adherent to Jeffersonian Democracy. He is an ad- mirer and warm personal friend of Col. William J. Bryan, who. during his visit to Milwaukee in the spring of 1899, was a guest at Mr. Bruce's home. Mr. Bruce was born in 1856, in the city of Milwaukee, within the shadow of the present city hall. He en- tered the employ of the old Daily News in 1874. Six years later he entered the office of the Sentinel Company, holding a responsi- ble position for eleven years. In 1891 he established the American School Board Journal, which he has since conducted with consid- erable success.
MILTON CUSHING PHILLIPS.
Milton Cushing Phillips, United States District Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. is of Welsh and Dutch descent. His father, Bradford Phillips, was a lumber manufacturer, owning a mill and considerable Ember land on the Little Wolf river in Waupaca county at the time of his death. He came from Turner county, Maine, to Wisconsin. in 1849, when a young man and without means beyond a small amount saved from his own earn- ings. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, all his patriotism was aroused; and, leaving a prosperous business, he enlisted. in 1861, in Company A, Eighth regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and went out with that regiment as orderly sergeant of his com- pany, which was commonly known as the "Eagle Company." He remained with this command until the second battle of Corinth. in October, 1862, when he fell on the fieldl. He was a man of great native ability, both in business and as a public speaker, and had at- tained no little prominence in Eastern Wisconsin in both spheres
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