USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 61
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as a good precedent, but only as show- ing a characteristie.
At twenty-one we find him, with an elder brother, Marcus Brutus, en- tering Ohlo in search of a permanent home. They separated at Cleveland, agreeing to meet there at a certain tine, and report progress. But the brother never returned; and, after weary and anxious waiting, the subject of this sketch entered upon an engage- ment with Owen Brown, the father of that John Brown whose devotion to the cause of antisiavery, 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. Fairehild 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 arrange- ment was very brief, though a friend- ship continued. For when, some years later, John lost his wife, the fact was announced in a letter to his former partner, beginning, " My good, faith- ful, obedient wife Diantha is dead."
About this thne Mr. Fairchild met with Sally Blair, a handsome, energetic daughter of New England, of Seotch- Irish descent, gifted with Scotch per- sistency 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), O., where they lived in a log-house a year, till their own house was built.
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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 preva- lent 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. But to him personally this was a period of intense interest. His busy days were followed by sleep- less 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 strug- gles 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 fre- quent 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.
father's humbling experiences in this "crash." While engaged in the wea- risome 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 af- forded 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 inen of the State together in Madison, but made politi- cal questions the subject of every- day 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 cam- paign 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. Per- haps it was not so much that he agreed with him in the abstract, as that be 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 sonbriquet cheerfully accepted by himself and others.
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 millionnaires. His little brood, incapa- ble of comprehending the prosperity, were taught by this adversity that op- 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. portunities for education were to be made the most of; and much of the sons' perseverance, and faithful per- formance of small duties, may have been unconsciously derived from their | Dewey, and was elected to the same
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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 famili- arly 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 re- sources 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 pro- cured, 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 com- pleted 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 hospitalitles, is not to be bought with mere money.
While he was a State officer, he be- came intimately acquainted with the whole State, through his ex-officio con- nection with the commissioners for the' care of school and university lands; and, though he was strongly averse to much they were obliged to do, con- sldering 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.
office, for a second term, in 1849. In ' Influence was widely felt In his day; 1851. and again in 1853, he was pressed ( and who shall say where it will end? 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 could not sleep comfortably in his bed if he knew others to be homeless and suffering. Ile was foremost in every public work. No widow or orphan was ever turned away till his best thonghit and kindest aid had been given. No man, not even the worth- less, ever appealed to his friendship in vain. He felt that want of success often stamped a man as worthless among his fellows; and the unfor- tunate were sure of his aid. At one time his banker refused to accept his name as an indorser, giving, as a rea- son, 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 enor- mous. 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 pull- ing 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 stead- ily into a printing-office, and, with his own unaided arm, broke up a news- paper form upon the press, then print- ing false words derogatory to him. This strength, and self-reliance in his personal appearance, made the feebic- ness and loss of sight of his last months peculiarly touching.
His life went ont 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 ob-
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 jection. It was his country; and the
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Union was essential to his Idea of it. [ longer period, later, at the school which And when Cassius, returning from the afterwards became Carroll College, in Waukesha, Wis. He 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. 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 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 permis- sion 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. it. Ard though great tears rolled down his chceks, already thin and pallid at the rapid approach of death, those precious lives were never re- called, even to comfort his last days. The fortunes of war sent his eldest son, Cassius, baek on a streteher, with a ball in his thigh, to occupy an ad- joining bed-room during his father's last days, and, with his mother and sister, to follow, on crutches, the re- With his unele 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 ineldent than his repeated election as alderman (one year presi- dent of the common council), and an election, in 1859, as member of the legislature from the city of Madison. vered 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 Poto- mae, and his third son and youngest child in the navy, now on guard below Rietunond. in James River, and then participating in the siege of Charles- ton, his great grief, his really first thought, was for his country, - the '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 diserimination as to men, and to have so won their respect as to wield a controlling influence over many of Iris seniors in years and experience. fear that peace had fled from it for a long time, if not forever. No victories came to cheer his last days. With fail- ing strength, and nearly extinguished sight, he went out in the darkest days of the war, just when defeat after de- feat had begun to teach our armies how large a task had been undertaken. He died July 18, 1862.
CASSIUS FAIRCHILD was born at Franklin Mills, now Kent, O., 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 servlee of his country just before the close of the Revolutionary War. He had been in Nova Scotia, most prosperously situ- ated, at the Declaration of Independ- enee, and, sacrificing all his property, had hastened home to fight for his Country. His mother's other grand- father, 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 hils education, with the exception of one year spent at an academy in Twinsbr:g, O., and a
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 dur- ing the war. Among its most inde- fatigable members were the brothers Cassius and Lucius Fairchild.
At the breaking-ont of the war, Cassius was in the wilds of the North- ern Pineries, attending, with patience and taet, to a most wearing and vexa- tions business, in which misplaced eunfidenee and kindness had involved his father. Immediately after his re- turn home, he offered his services to the governor, and in October, 1861, was appointed major of the Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. In December following, he was promoted to the office of lientenant-colonel. At the battle of Shiloh, a ball entered his thigh, so close to the hip-joint, that
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amputation was impossible, and all | married ten days before his death. tampering dangerous. By the almost He is interred in Madison. 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 seven pieces of his clothing remained in the wound, baffling the search of a score of surgeons. Through all this suffering 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 re- vered and beloved father, and of sus- taining his mother and sister through the bereavement, were secured to him by his prolonged suffering. The ball was found by Dr. Brainard, In Decem- ber, and the foreign substances re- moved; but they had remained so long embedded in the bone, that a new for- mation of bone had grown over them, and the conseqnent 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. MePher- son was his kind and constant friend; and Gens. Force, Belknap, and others of his companions, remember him with expressions of affectionate respect.
In March, 1864, he was appointed colonel. His regiment belonged to the Seventeenth Army Corps, which achieved such a noble record at At- lanta, 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 1866, he was ap- pointed United States marshal, and again removed to the city of Milwau- kee, 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, 1868.
HON. LEVI B. VILAS. - He was born in Sterling, Lamoille County, Vt., on Feb. 25. 1811. Hereceived an academ- ic education, and pursued a partial collegiate course. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar at St. Albans, Vt., in 1833. He was the first post- master at Morrisville, in 1934. Soon after, he removed to Johnson, in that State, from which place he was elected a member, of the State Constitutional Convention, in 1835. He represented that town in the State legislature in 1836 and 1837, and was elected by the legislature, in the latter year, one of the commissioners of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institution : during the same period, he hekl the office of register of probate. He removed to Chelsea in 1838, and represented that town in the legislature in 184)-43, and was the Democratic candidate for speaker for the same years. During these four years, he served on the judiciary com- mittee, and the last year was its chair- man. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress from his district in 1844, against Hon. Jacob Collamer. In the following year he was elected State senator from Orange County, and re- elected in 1846; and was unanimously elected president pro tem, of the senate in a body composed of twenty-three Whigs and seven Democrats, he being of the latter number. He held the office of judge of probate in Orange County for three years. He was sup- ported by the Democrats in the legisla- ture for United States senator, against Hon. William Upham, in 1848; and was a Democratic candidate for presidential eleetor the same year; also delegate to. the Baltimore Convention ; was a mem- ber of the State Constitutional Conven- tion in 1850, from Chelsea; and was the Democratic candidate for president of that body.
He came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled at Madison; but it should be remarked, in this connection, that Mr. Vilas, during his residence in Vermont, was not only sought after by the elec- tors, for responsible positions of trust, but enjoyed a very lucrative law prac- tice. It is said, that, for many years previous to his removal to Wisconsin, he enjoyed as large a practice at the bar as any other lawyer in Vermont, - perhaps larger. He repre- sented the Madison district in the assembly, in the years 1855 and 1868,
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 | and was mayor of the city of Madison
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from April, 1861, to April, 1862. His | HON. ALEXANDER W. RANDALL. - inaugural address, delivered before the Gov. Randall was a native of New Madison common couneil, April 16, York. He was born in Cooperstown, 1861, is a lengthy and able document, | displaying great logic, and an extensive practical acquaintance with the uses and abuses of government. Among the many sentences in which he evinced his own political doctrines, as well as manifested a high degree of reasoning power, was this: "1 look upon infidelity to public trust as moral treason to the government."
He was appointed by Gov. Salomon. and served as draft commissioner in the war for the Union, in 1862. Judge Vilas rendered his country great service in various ways during the years of its greatest trial. His po- litical speeches did much to arouse the requisite enthusiasm; and his ex- ample led many to the post of duty. While he labored faithfully at the post of duty at home, he had four sons who rendered valuable service in the fieldl.
He was regent of the Wisconsin State University for twelve years pre- vious to its re-organization. He was the Democratic candidate for secretary of State in 1865, and received the Democratic vote for speaker of the as- sembly at its organization in 1873. During his term as regent of the Uni- versity, he rendered the State great service in memorializing the legisla- ture against the charging of interest on trust-funds, &c. While in the legisla- ture, he was also instrumental in fram- Ing a code of practice, proenring the Madison gas-works, and the completion of the dome of the Capitol.
He was married, in 1837, to Esther G. Smilie, daughter of the Hon. Nathan Smilie of Cambridge, Vt. They have been blessed with a family of ten chil- dren. Five of his sons have graduated at the Wisconsin State University. Judge Vilas, although still active, is somewhat past the meridian of life, and bears the imprint of years. His wife, however, would seem to be scarcely berond the noonday of life. She is brilliant in conversation, active in society, rendering her palace-home a place of cheer and welcome to the hosts of friends and relatives that pass its threshold. Judge Vilas's house- hold is an exceedingly happy one. Its crowning blessing is a bright little daughter of only ten years. With am- ple means, a complete library, hosts of warm friends, and a palace for a home, the judge is, as he should be in his retired life, remarkably happy.
in that State, about the year 1819, and was fifty-three years of age at the time of his death. Of his early life we know but little. After passing through his school-days, he read law. Soon after his admission to the bar, he removed to Wisconsin, and located at Prairieville (now Waukesha), in this State. He commenced the practice of his profes- sion with a fair show of success; but his love of political life was so great, and he devoted so much time to that subject, as to interfere considerably with his legal practice.
In polities, Gov. Randall was origi- nally a Democrat. He was always zeal- ous in the cause he espoused, and a working member of the party with which he acted. His first appearance at the capital, officially, was as a mem- ber of the first Constitutional Conven- tion, in 1846. He was then quite a young man ; but he took prominent po- sition in that body. In 1848, when the great Freesoil movement of that year was inaugurated, Gov. Randall was prominent in it, taking an active part in a Freesoil State Convention. He did not harmonize long with that party, but soon fell back into the ranks of the regular Democracy. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Randall was elected, as an Inde- pendent Democrat, a member of the next assembly, against the regular nominee of the party. This assembly was Republican by a small majority. Gov. Randall was made chairman of the judiciary committee ; and the Journal of that session will show that he was a very laborious and able mem- ber. At the Republican State Conven- tion for the nomination of a ticket for State officers, in 1855, Mr. Randall was placed upon it for attorney-gene- ral. He made a gallant canvass, but was defeated, as were the others upon the ticket, with the exception of gov- ernor; and that officer obtained the position by contest before the Supreme Court. In this gubernatorial contest between Bashford and Barstow, Mr. Randall acted as one of the attorney's for the contestant (Bashford). In this case he displayed marked ability as a lawyer.
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