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 66
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"Conciliatory and forgiving to ene- mies, he never forgets acts of kindness to himself. Like Franklin, he has aided many young men in the com- mencement of their business-career, and has been gratified with their snc- cess. He is an acute observer of things and passing events. With broad and comprehensive views, he has accurate knowledge of men, sound judgment, comes slowly to conclusions, is firm in his convictions, energetic and thorough in execution. He Is reticent, thought- ful, and conscientious: hence rarely disappointed in resnits. Honest him- self, he naturally exacts honesty in others. Kind to the weak and the good, bold and daring In opposition to the vicious and the strong, retiring and diffident in deportment, he yet seems to have a reserved force equal to all emergencies. It is no mystery that this man has become the recog- nized leader of the masses of the peo- ple in their struggle for political and
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financial reform in the administration | made men, whose lives, like that of of the affairs of government.
" He entered upon his present posl- tion with a large experience In pubiie affairs. He was never permitted to remain long in private life. He has been called to fili various town, county, and State offices; has repeatedly re- ceived every vote cast for chairman of the board of his town; has been superintendent of schools; has been twice chairman of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, consisting of forty-one members; has been county superintendent of the poor seventeen years; was trustee, and many years vice-president and member of the executive committee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Madison, from its re-organization in 1800 until 1874. In these various positions, in connection with his associates, he has handied hundreds of thousands of dollars of publie funds belonging to towns, county, and State, with ciean hands. Has been a member of both branches of the State legislature, where he was respected and consult- ed; has served seven years as presi- dent of the Dane County Agricultural Society; was chief marshai of the State Agricultural Society seven or eight years, and twice its president.
"During the war of the Rebellion, he was the first man in Dane County to offer a public bounty for volunteers, which led to the offer of other boun- ties, and many enlistments.
"In 1873 he was by aeclamation placed at the head of the Reform ticket, and elected governor of the State, receiving 81,635 votes against 66,224 for his opponent. Gov. C. C. Washburn. His career in the exeeu- tive ehair has been marked by the same practicai ability and integrity that have characterized all the acts of his earnest and laborious life. He has enforeed economy, honesty, and effi- eiency in the administration of State affairs. That there have been mur- murs and complaints by disappointed aspirants to office excites no surprise nor disaffection on the part of the liberal and the just. His official con- duct thus far has commanded the respect of the good men of all parties, and contributed to the contentment of the people and the prosperity of the State. If popular governments in the American Union are to be preserved to the people In their original purity, that end will be best attained by ele- vating to high official positions self- in official service for many years, -
Gov. Taylor, furnish a noble example of honorable enterprise, and unselfish devotion to every publie and private duty."
We may, with propriety, add to the colonei's biography of the governor a brief review of his administration and public services. But first, in reiation to his election, - the contest, In which his party was victorious, and the criti- cisms to which the election was sub- jected, - there are a few things that properly belong to history, which may be said In this connection. On his election, the Republican press of the State, with a few exceptions, was ex- eeedingiy fair and honest in its criti- cisms. It conceded, for the most part, both his ability and disposition to make his administration an able one, which should not conform to such outside Influences as aiways seek to inflict themseives upon the execu- tive department of a State government. But there were exceptions, as we have aiready hinted, here and there, in this regard, - exceptions, however, that arose entirely from partisanship, and not from any reasonable cause. Some of the most bitter of these predicted that Gov. Tayior would become a mere screen, behind which another would be the real governor ; that he would be a tool In the hands of a certain rail- road president; to perform work which that distinguished gentleman would instigate, but shirk the responsibility of performing. We cite this particu- lar ease now, after the heat of the eampaign has passed, in order to con- trast it with what the record of Mr. Taylor, as governor, has been, and for the purpose of holding up political campaigns in the light of history; by which light we may ciearly see the Injustice of party criticism. But, In the midst of this criticism, there was a powerful current of political opinion, which found expression alike in both Democratie and Republican newspa- pers, in able support of the governor. Mr. C. D. Robinson, the well-known and able editor of "The Green Bay Advocate," upon the election of Gov. Tayior, made these remarks: "No man in the State exceeds hhn mn per- sonal independenee, in ability to de- termine his own line of conduct on any question, and in a sturdy deter- mination to follow it out according to his best judgment. It has been our own fortune to be connected with him
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that of the management of the Madi- son Hospital for the Insane; and we have long ago learned to admire him for these qualities. That Board con- sisted of fifteen members, a majority of whom were of opposite politics ; and we know that every one of them will indorse what we say of him. In practical ability, steadiness of charac- ter, thorough honesty, and native independence, Gov. Taylor will prove the peer of any governor which Wisconsin has ever had. And that is saying a good deal; for, looking along the list of our chief executives since this State has had a being, it shows a record second, at least, to no Western State, if, indeed, any in the Union. He will lose nothing in comparison with Dodge, Dewey, Farwell, Barstow, Bashford, Randall, Harvey, Salomon, Lewis, Fairchild, or Washburn. Most, if not all, of these, are Illustrious names, remarkable, perhaps, more for their practical executive ability, and sterling reliability, than exalted eduea- tion, and brilliant attainments; and they form a record of which any State might be proud. When William R. Taylor's name shall have gone into the past with them, it will take an honorable piace, and second to none in that assembly."
And, now that the record has been made up, what may we say of the emphatic prediction of Mr. Robinson ? Have not all his words been admirably fulfilled ? And does not the name of William R. Taylor take an honorable stand in the impartial history of Wis- consin ? These questions may be best answered by the following editorial from " The Milwaukee Daily News:" "Parties, and men of all opinions at Madison, agree that Gov. Taylor is making one of the very best governors which the State ever had. Called to the office in a great crisis in polities, at a time when a party, after being eighteen years in power, had retired, and a new party had taken its place, with but little previous experience in public affairs, taken from his farm to be placed in the exceutive chair of the State, he was surrounded by obstacles, embarrassments, conflicting interests, and novel situations, from which the highest political skill and adroitness could hardly have extrieated him without his falling into some errors and mistakes. But as the late Chief Justice Dixon, raw and undisciplined in judicial office, after his elevation to Chief Justice Whiton's place, rapidly
grew, until he became an admirable presiding officer of the court, so Gov. Taylor, with a readiness, adaptability, and force, hardly to be expected of one in his place, and surrounded by circumstances like his, has developed into an executive of rare capacity, with a good understanding of the highest and most intricate publie hi- terests, and with grasp and compre- hension of all the matters vital to the people, which show a mind of an ex- cellent order, and a practical ability equal to that of the most distinguished of his predecessors. Growing out of the early difficulties of his office, there were some estranged friendships, and some hostility of feeling, among the politicians who were too anxious to see results, and could not give a politi- cal revolution time for development, and for the realization of its fruits. Most of this feeling, or these feelings, we are glad to say, have disappeared. To-day Gov. Taylor is one of the most popular public men ever known in the State."
For an account of Gov. Taylor's administration, see p. 641.
HON. WILLIAM E. SMITH. - There is no other man in the State of Wis- consin who has made a greater impres- sion upon its citizens, through deeds characterized by Integrity and useful- ness, than the subject of this sketch. His life and character present alike the successful merchant, popular citi- zen, faithful public officer, refined gentleman, and accomplished scholar: to these may be added the genial com- panion and true friend. Our sketch of his life, though poorly written, is certainly Interesting. In the summer of 1835 his father's family set sail for the New World in search of a home. They landed in New York, where all but the father remained, while the latter pushed westward to " prospeet " among the border settle- ments. He secured a quarter-section of land in Michigan, about thirty miles north of Detroit, on which he ereeted a rude log-cabin, and then returned for his family. In the spring of 1836 they all came out, and settled on the new farm. The five years following was a period characterized by hard work, - hard work with the plough, hoe, spade, and axe. In this rough field of labor, Mr. Smith was not an idle observer; but to him each day was a day of labor. He worked on his father's farm for several years, attend- ing school a portion of the time, with
Entry đoogli
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only the additional attractions of the | never-failing rule is not proven by its village debating-club to enliven the exception in this case. routine of duty.
At length a village merchant se- lected Mr. Smith from his many young associates, and tendered him a clerkship in his store. This fortunate occurrence alike testified to his pre- vious good deportment, and opened the way for further advancement. He took his place In the store in May, 1841, when but seventeen years of age, with a fixed determination to make the most of his position, to be constant in service, and to advance the interests of his employers. Fortunately for the subject of our sketch, the Town Li- brary was connected with the store. This library contained an excellent selection, embracing works of history, travei, and natural science. After the busy hours of the day were over, and during leisure hours, this library was his home, and its volumes his most loved companions. In this way he not only became conversant with all the valuable works in the library, but, keeping a constant eye to newspaper literature, became also familiar with ail the political issues and struggies of the day. Nor was he, even at this age, In the matter of politics, unconcerned in his choice of issues. His sense of right confirmed him In the Whig faith. A fact that contributed much to his success was, that he found but littie time to waste on society, aud abso- lutely no time for any sort of dissipa- tion. Always at his post of duty in the church on the sabbath, he grew in Christian character; and, ever active in the village lyceum, his mind was enabled to keep active pace with the ! also tendered unlimited credit by his most advanced issues In science, litera- employers in New York. ture, and politics.
He remained at the village store of which we have been speaking about five years, during which time he won the most implicit confidence of his employers, and the highest respect of ail his companions. Most of his salary was voluntarily handed over to his father.
Having observed the conduct of Mr. Smith during the years of his minority, we are, of course, prepared to enter upon an account of his truly successful life. Nor is it difficult for us to see how a life founded on such a boyhood, resting on such a youth experience, may be successful. It is an axiom not less true than old, that the faithful, obedient boy makes the favored and successful man. The
At the age of twenty-one, in the spring of 1846, he was tendercd a po- sition in the celebrated dry - goods establishment of Lord & Taylor, in the metropoils of the nation. The advancement was marked; the prog- ress was radical: but these did not outweigh the devotion with which Mr. Smith accepted his new and more responsible position In New York. He had been with this well -known firm but one year, when a more ex- tensive field opened to his industry and perseverance. He was tendered an important position in the wholesale establishment of Ira Smith & Com- pany of New York. This firm had an extensive Western trade, - a trade which, as we shall sec, was the means of securing to the West the permanent residence of our subject. Mr. Smith accepted this position in 1847. This was before " travelling salesmen " were In vogue, when our Western merchants went on to New York twice a year to seleet their supplies, when the canal and lakes were open. At the close of the fall trade In 1847-48, Mr. Smith, having won the entire confidence of his employer, not only in his integrity, but his commercial ability, was sent to the Western States to take charge of and look after the interests of his house in this section. He performed this work in a manner attended by great success, until the fall of 1849, when he was offered a partnership interest in the establishment of a son of Ira Smith, who had opened a gene- ral store at Fox Lake, Wis. He was
Fox Lake was then a little hamlet with scarcely two hundred inhabitants, situated some seventy miles north-west from Milwaukee. There were in the town two stores, a few dwelling- houses, a saw-mill, and a small school- house, used alternately for teaching and preaching. The surrounding coun- try was new, rich, and rapidly filling up with an intelligent, enterprising population; and it was plain to Mr. Smith that Fox Lake offered extraor- dinary Inducements for the investment of skill and capital. His great fore- sight enabled him to penetrate Into the future development of that region; and he decided to cast his lot with that people; and it may be said that this decision was of much importance to the common weal of Fox Lake.
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Having determined to settle at Fox Lake, Mr. Smith "bethought him of the girl he left behind," who had, years before, won his heart in Michi- gan. She was a clergyman's daugh- ter, thoroughly accomplished. Having entered into the bonds of matrimony with the choice of his youth, Mr. Smith set at work in good earnest in building up a business for his store at Fox Lake. In this he was, if possible, more successful than In any previous effort. His store soon became the most popular resort for general sup- plies, by the people in the county, for many miles surrounding. And in this prosperity his peculiar, straightfor- ward, upright manner of doing busi- ness contributed much. The whole people, with one consent, gave hh their confidence and support; and the measure of his success was limited only by the measure of his ambition.
In these pioneer days, 1850-51, there was no church at Fox Lake. The littie congregation gathered . at the schoolhouse; Mr. Smith occasionally kindilng the fires, and supplying can- dies from his store. In 1852 he com- menced a movement for the building of a church. Subscriptions were cir- culated, contracts let, money advanced, and the bullding pushed to completion. This little church, erected largely through the efforts and by the means advanced by Mr. Smith, was opened to ail denominations, as was also Mr. Smith's house, which soon became the home of all wayfaring bishops and preachers. We might, with propriety, notice in this connection, that while Mr. Smith has always been foremost in the community in which he has lived, as, also, in the whole State, In works of education and benevolence and Christianity, he is wholly unsecta- rian, giving his support alike freely to promote every good word and work.
upon as the first of a long list of suc- cessful efforts for the educational growth of Wisconsin, which Mr. Smith has put forth, with other gen- tlemen; and it was a good effort. It would not be an easy matter to de- scribe the good resnits that have grown out of this seminary in the way of preparing young ladies for the duties of mothers and wives. Mr. Smith was also active in establishing a lyceum or debating-club at Fox Lake,- an Institution which he has always re- garded with favor, as calculated to give employment to the minds of young men, influence their habits for good, wean them from vice, and lift them into a higher and purer atmosphere of thought and ambition.
The bank of Fox Lake was also a pioneer institution, and was one of the very few in the State that weathered all financial storms, and retained the confidence of the people. Mr. Smith was president of this bank from 1859 to 1865, when he was called to a larger field. Unlike most men who have been elected to numerous important publie offices, Mr. Smith's politicai and commercial experiences go hand in hand. His political life begins with the organization of the State government of Wisconsin. He was elected to the assembly almost the first year he settled In Fox Lake, and has served the State in some im- portant trust ever since, and always with singular ability and nnimpeacha- ble honesty. His first speech in the State legislature was made on the subject of capital punishment. Ilis second speech was in favor of submit- ting the "Bank Question " to the people. In these efforts, which were worthy the great interests involved in the debate, Mr. Smith thoroughly im- pressed the eltizens of Wisconsin that he was no ordinary speaker. His style is pleasing, his power of reason strong and clear, and his command of language and illustration forcibie.
Through the efforts of Mr. Smith and others, an academy was started in Fox Lake in 1853; but this was soon after appropriately incorporated In 1851 Mr. Smith was nominated to the same position by acciamation, but declined to be a candidate. The failure of the wheat-crop that year, and the consequent danger to busi- ness, and the interests of his credit- ors, decided him to stand at the post of duty and danger, instead of yield- ing to the allurements of office. into the public school. But he was not content with public schools, how- ever, but, soon after, set himself ac- tively at work, organizing a young ladies' seminary at that place. Nor was he long in accompilshing the de- sired result. The institution was opened in 1855, and has grown to be an efficient school. It is now the In 1854 he took part in the organi- zation, In Wisconsin, of the Repub- liean party. In 1857 he was elected only exclusive ladies' seminary in the State, outside of Milwaukee. This in- stitution of learning may be looked to the State senate, and assigned to
Doitleod li & Doglo
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the chairmanship of several of the | gressman, Hopkins and others, he made most important committees, among a journey to Salt Lake and California, visiting the noteworthy wonders of that region. which was that on education. In 1858 Mr. Smith was appointed one of the board of Normal School Regents, a position which he stili retains, and in which he has rendered the State inval- uable service.
In 1861, when the thunders of civil war were pealing over the nation, awakening a loyal people to feelings of intense patriotism, Mr. Smith made a visit to Washington, calling at the White House to pay his respects to Pres. Lincoin. He related to the writer, not long since, an incident that oc- curred during his visit to the White House, that is not only Interesting, but that reflects some of the sterling char- acter of Mr. Lincoin's llttie son Willie, now deceased. The incident occurred in the hali below, whlie a large party of visitors were awaiting the adjournment of the cabinet. A crippled soldier had called to see Mr. Lincoln, and was turned away by the attendant at the door. Little Willie Lincoln happened in at the moment the disheartened soi- dier was leaving, and inquired if he wanted to see his father. He was told that he did. "Wait," said Willie: "father likes to see soldiers." And, running away to the upper room, he soon returned, and conducted the sol- dier to the presence of his father. Mr. Smith and his associates from Wiscon- sin had a pleasant conversation with the President, one in which Mr. Lin- coln took more than ordinary interest, remarking that it was a treat to meet and converse with men who were not office-seekers.
Mr. Smith was re-elected to the State senate in the fall of 1863, in the dark days of the war. On this occasion he rendered valuable service on the finance committee, doing all he could in every word and work to sustain the National Government. In the fall of 1865 he was elected State treasurer, succeeding Mr. Hastings. He brought his previous business-habits to the office, giving his personal attention to every department of business, consuiting the Interests and convenlences of the people in every act. He was not only an efficient and honest state treasurer, but courteous and obil- ging. He was renominated to the same position in 1867, receiving the unani- mous vote of the convention In token of approval. At the State convention in 1860, he was third on the Republican list of nominees presented for governor. The same fall, in company with con- I as an active citizen and public officer.
At the close of his senatorship, on the first of June, 1870, he decided to take a general rest from busy life, and travel abroad. Accordingly, he set sail for Europe, landing in England after a brief passage. He proceeded thence to the Continent, taking in the capitals and principal cities of all the great countries of Central Europe, including a visit to Vesuvius, Pompeii, Lake Como, and the Alps, and the provinces of the Rhine. He also visited many of the great cathedrals, museums, water- ing-places, galleries of art, &c. Those interested in crowned heads will be In- terested to know that he saw William at Ems, Emanuel at Florence, Joseph at Vienna, Napoleon at Paris, and Vic- toria at London. Mr. Smith says that neither of the first three was attended by any fuss of parade, or insignia of rank. The latter two were seen in open carriages, with escorts on their way to Buckingham Palace and St. Cloud. At Florence he was enabled to attend the House of Deputies, then in session ; and at Paris, attended by Ex-Gov. James T. Lewis of Wiscon- sin, he was admitted to the dipio- matic gallery of the senate and corps legislatif, through the courtesy of Min- ister Washburn, where he had the good fortune to hear M. Thiers, Gambetta, and Jules Favre, and other celebrities, who became prominent soon after in the Franco-Prussian war. While in London, he had the satisfaction of hearing Gladstone and Disraeli in par- liament, Spurgeon at the Tabernacle, and Newman Hail at Surrey Chapel. He spent several weeks in London, studying its institutions, and visiting its places of historic renown. From London, he passed to the great manu- facturing districts, visiting the home of Shakspeare, and subsequently the homes of Scott and Burns, not for- getting his own native home among the Aberdeen Highlands. After a brief but interesting tour through Wales and Ireland, he embarked at Queenstown for New York, where he arrived with invigorated health, after six months' absence.
During his stay in the Old World, he was a faithful student; and he re- turned to his home in America, not only prepared to love it more, but better qualified to discharge his duties
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Immediately after his return to Fox | full vote of his party, but the support of independent thinkers.
Lake, he was re-elected to the State legislature, - the same position which he held twenty years before. At the meeting of the legislature, he was eleeted speaker, receiving the united Republican vote. The session was a memorable one, as will be found by turning to its history in another place in this volume. Exciting questions were considered, and pressed to con- clusion; but, throughout this stormy session, not a word of complaint was heard as to the course of the speaker, nor was a single appeal taken from his rulings. At the close of the session, he received the heartfelt thanks of both parties. In 1872 Mr. Smith removed to Milwaukee, and in company with J. A. Roundy, a man of large means, and Sydney Sauxhaust, established a wholesale grocery house, where he still resides.
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