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 70
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HON. FERDINAND KUEHN .- He was HON. T. A. CHAPMAN. - He was born at Giles, Mc., May 23, 1824. His father was a farmer, and possesses unyielding Integrity. Mr. Chapman worked on the farm, and attended the common school, until he was twenty years of age. He taught two terms, and then entered as clerk in a dry- goods store in Boston. He remained there thirteen years. While there, he engaged in business for himself; but, as he wanted capital, lie could not com- pete successfully with the trade, and he decided to "go West." He brought with him little more than a reputation for integrity, good moral character, and good credit. He commenced busi- ness in 1857,. in East Water Street, Milwaukee, where he carried on a successful and prosperous trade. The sales of the first year amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, and in 1871 to two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars. The next year he bought a corner of Wisconsin and Milwaukee Streets, and built the spacious double store now occupied by him, where he became more popular than ever. The sales in 1875 will reach a million of dollars. His business is wholly of a retail character. Mr. Chapman is a born In Augsburg, Bavaria, Feb. 22. 1821. Here he acquired his education. In his fifteenth year he was apprenticed to a banking-house in his native city. Subsequently he secured a situation in a banking-house at Berne, Switzer- land, where he remained ten years. Desirous of obtaining an independent position, he emigrated to Washington County, Wisconsin, in 1844, where he remained two years. In 1845 he mar- ried. But, being without sufficient means to purchase a farm, he removed, in the following year, to Milwaukee. After clerking a short time, he learned to make cigars, and occasionally served at book-keeping, thereby increasing his scanty income. In 1849 he was ap- pointed cicrk in the city treasurer's office, where he remained five years. In 1834 he was elected city treasurer, and, in the following year, was re- elected without opposition. In 1856 formed a partnership with the late Senator Charles Quentin, and was also chosen alderman of the sixth ward of Milwaukee, and, three years later, was made school-commissioner of said ward. In 1860 he was elected comp- trolier of the city. The duties of this position were extremely arduous, as he man of sterling character, unimpeach-
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able in his morals, and temperate in | suppressed. He was opposed to any act his habits. Financially, he "worked his way up" from nothing, recelving no help in the shape of means from any source. His sales not unfre- quently reach as high as four thousand dollars per day. His employees num- ber over one hundred persons. Among them are forty females, and many men of families. He is particular to employ only those of a high moral character, and possessing intelligence and education. Many teachers are found in his corps of workers. With- out strong practical common-sense, constant diligence, perseverance, and sound judgment, Mr. Chapman would
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have failed. His successes applaud him more than our words. In May, 1850, Mr. Chapman married Laura O. Bowker. They have two daughters, Alice G. and Laura Appleton.
indicating a repudiation of the na- tional debt, or an assumption of the rebel debt, or any part thereof, by the United States. He has ever held an aversion to the manner of "running men for office," that so largely pre- vails in this country. He has seldom permitted his name to be placed upon a ticket for any office, although often urged by his friends to so do; yet he has held various local offices of a non- partisan character, and was placed in those positions by the aid of Republican votes. In April, 1874, he was appointed by Gov. Taylor as a member, and Is now vice-president, of the State Board of Charities and Reform. As a mem- ber of this board, he conducted, in be- half of the State, the investigation of the management of the State Prison, and the Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. He is one of the commissioners named by the legislature of 1874-77 to consider the feasibility of the removal of the State Prison from Waupun. Mr. Chapin does not allow his public duties to interfere with his professional labors ; and, consequently, he enjoys an extended and lucrative practice. As a lawyer, he stands among the first of the profession, and is held in high reputation as a citizen.
HON. E. E. CHAPIN. - He was born at Venice, Cayuga County, N.Y., July 14, 1829, and in 1837, with his parents, removed to Aurelius, near Auburn, N. Y., where he remained till October, 1854, when he came to Wisconsin, first settling at Oconomewoc, and removed to Columbus In January, 1856, where he has since resided. He received an academic education. By profession he is a lawyer. For years he has been a member of the Democratic State Cen- G. B. CONGDON. - He was born in Otisco, Onondaga County, N.Y., April 9, 1835. His father died in 1842, leaving his mother with a large family, and limited means with which to provide for them. By her wise, economical management, she kept them all together until they were able to do for them- selves. At the age of twelve he began life for himself as a pleker-boy in Har- lem Mill. At the age of eighteen he came to Beaver Damn, Wis., where he followed various occupations until 1859, when he engaged in banking, which proved disastrous, owing to the break- ing-out of the Rebellion, and deprecia- tion of Southern State stock. From 1861, to May, 1863, he was engaged in the United States mustering-office at Madison, where he received appoint- ment as paymaster in the army, and served in this capacity until close of the war, when he resigned, came home, and purchased an interest in mills, with which he is still connected, and has from that time been manager of an Institution which is a credit to the woollen Industry of Wisconsin. It may be truly said of Mr. Congdon, that he is an economical and an industrions tral Committee, and In that capacity has entered into state and national canvasses with speech, pen, and purse, to reclaim the state and nation from the theories and aims advocated by the Republican party, as opposed to the broad democratic principles of govern- ment early established and advocated by Jefferson and the fathers. He has attended as a delegate from Columbia County, and participated in every Dem- ocratic State Convention since 1855. His political course has been liberal and progressive, and in the convention held at Milwaukee in 1869, by which Hon. C. D. Robinson of Green Bay was nominated for governor, Mr. Chapin, in conjunction with a number of prominent men, Including Gov. Taylor, Insisted upon a platform of principles indicating the new departure, that ulti- mately overthrew the Republican party in Wisconsin. During the war of the Rebellion, he contributed time and money to sustain the government, and not the political party in the ascen- dency, firmly believing that military force must be met by military force, and a rebellion "against the powers that be" must be promptly met and man, always actively interested in
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every enterprise that is productive of | admitted to the bar in the fall of 1850. the financial, educational, and moral good of the people.
HON. LEANDER F. FRISBY. - He was born in Mesopotamia, Trumbull County, O., June 19, 1825. His father was a farmer, and emigrated to Ohlo from Castleton, Vt., in 1817, and set- tled in Mesopotamia. In early life Mr. Frisby labored during the summer on his father's farm, and in winter attended the district school, thereby sceuring the rudiments of an educa- tion. Determined to acquire a thor- ough Intellectual culture such as his father was unable to give, he left the farm when about seventeen years of age, and learned the wagon-maker's trade, during which time he' pursued his studies as best he could at odd spells, and after the labors of the day had been performed. Subsequently he attended the Farmington Academy in his native county, paying for his board and tuition In the mean time by working at his trade in evenings and during vacation. Having completed his academical course, he determined to seek his fortune farther west, and in September, 1864, emigrated to this State, which has ever since been his home. He reached Sheboygan with scarcely a dollar in his pocket, made his way to Fond du Lac, where he im- mediately fell sick of chill-fever, which lasted several months. Destitute as he was, before he was scarcely able to stand he sought work at his trade, and, failing to find it, worked at the cooper's trade for a while, with no other compensation than his board. On learning that his trade was in some demand at Beaver Damn, he borrowed fifty cents, and started for that place in March, 1847. He was fortunate enough to get a free ride to within about ten miles of his destination, where he stopped over night, paying his little pittance for his supper and lodging. The next morning he started on foot without breakfast. He obtained em- ployment for a portion of his thne. From this he went to Janesville in the following July, and there worked at his trade until the month of October, As a lawyer, Mr. Frisby stands In the front rank of his profession in the State, and has long enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He is at pres- ent the senior member of the law-firm of Frisby, Weil, and Barney. He has acquired his prominence as a lawyer, rather than as a politician; for, since his admission to the bar, he has been when he went to Spring Prairie, and taught a school for one year. In the fall of 1848 he went to Burlington, and opened an academic school in the old Burlington Academy. About this time he commenced the study of law, which he pursued with diligence during his leisure, for about two years, during which time he taught school. He was | constant in practice. Mr. Frisby's life
After this he settled in the village of West Bend, where he has ever since resided. He was married in 1854 to Francis E. Booker of Burlington, Wis. Though never a professional politician, Mr. Frisby has always taken a decided stand upon all the political questions of the day. From his boyhood, and during the long and trying contest with the slave-power, he has been one of its uncompromising opponents. In his early manhood he was a Freesoiler, but has been an earnest advocate of the Republican party since its organ- ization, and was one of the secretaries of the first Republican State Conven- tion held in Wisconsin. In 1853 he was elected district-attorney, which office he held for two years. In 1857 he was appointed county judge by Gov. Bashford, and served out an unexpired terin. In 1860 he was elected to the legislature by a large majority, not- withstanding the fact that the regular Republican ticket did not receive one- third of the votes in the district from which he was elected. The same year he was also a delegate to the Repub- lican National Convention at Chicago, and was one of its acting secretaries. In 1868 he was nominated for Con- gress by the Republican party of the Fourth Congressional District, but was defeated. The same year he was one of the presidential elcetors on the Republican ticket. In 1872 was a del- egate to the Republican National Con- vention held at Philadelphia. In 1873 he received the nomination for attor- ney-general upon the Republican State ticket; and though defeated, with the balance of his ticket, his run in his own county was, perhaps, without parallel in the political history of the State, receiving a majority of six hun- dred and twenty-seven votes, while the balance of his ticket was defeated in the county by 1,871 majority, and he led his ticket throughout the State. This home-indorsement produced quite a sensation at the time, and tells more of Mr. Frisby's personal merit than volumes of biography.
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is a standing example to the young | ued to live here, where the way opened men of our State, of what may be accomplished by industry and integrity, even under the most discouraging cir- cumstances of poverty and want of opportunity. He is more than a self- made man, Inasmuch as he not only carved out his own good name and fortune, but also helped others in their struggles. Industry, integrity, com- bined with the better qualities of the head and heart, make up the character of him who stands among the leading men of the State.
REV. ALFRED BRUNSON, A.M., D.D. - He was born in Danbury, Fair- field County, State of Connecticut, Feb. 9, 1793. His education was such as could be obtained In the common schools of those times. In 1800 his father moved to Sing Sing, N.Y., on the Hudson River, where he was drowned In 1806, when his mother moved back to Danbury with seven children, of whom Alfred was the el- dest, then thirteen years of age. He was then placed under the care of his uncle to learn the shoemaking trade, where he remained for five years. He had a taste for reading, and an ambi- tion to pursue some higher calling than his trade. Reading and hearing of Roger Sherman, the celebrated statesman, who was of the same trade, he felt an ambition to follow his steps, and leave the world the better for hav- ing lived in it. To accomplish this object, like Arndt, he planned to study and practise law, and if a war oc- curred, which the signs of the times strongly indicated, to share in Its dan- gers, and, If possible, In its glories. In the fall of 1808, having a disagreement with his uncle, he started for Ohio, where he had another uncle. He re- malned a while at Carlisle, Penn., and, finding himself not perfect as a work- man, received Instructions until he became very thorough in his trade. He had been religiously Inclined fromn the time of his father's death; and now, being in a Methodist family, he attended church with them, and was thoroughly awakencd, and on Feb. 3, 1809, was converted to God. Soon after this, he felt called of God to preach, and, joining that church, aban- doned his former plans, and devoted his time in preparing for the ministry. In the fall of 1809 he returned to Con- necticut. He stopped in Bridgeport, and informed his mother and uncle of his whereabouts, and paid the latter for the balance of his time, and contin- pared and ready to be put together, to
up for him to commence public reli- gious services, as he was licensed to ex- hort. In 1811 he married, and opened a shop for business ; but the war of 1812 so interfered, that he removed to Ohio, to work on a farm. Realizing his inse- curity on the frontier, he entered the army, under Gen. Harrison, In 1813, for a year. He was at the taking of Malden, and retaking of Detroit. At the expiration of his term of service, he returned home, and in 1815 was licensed to preach. In 1818 he formed a new circuit in Huron County, Ohio, where, in six months, he established twenty-four appointments, and gath- ered up a hundred and fifty members. His next circuit was in the north-west part of Pennsylvania; was four hun- dred miles round, having forty-four appointments to fill in four weeks. He had a colleague, and they had three hundred conversions as the fruit of their labor. In 1820 he joined the Ohio Annual Conference. The Pitts- burg (Penn.) Conference was organ- ized in 1825, with which he was connected. He travelled extensively through this region of country, preach- ing with great success, and literally "contending for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints." In the mean time, he formed a knowledge of jurisprudence necessary to a wise administration of discipline, and for four years read law, not anticipating admission to the bar. In 1831 the Meadville College was offered for the patronage of the conference to which he belonged. The offer was accepted; and he was appointed on that district, in order that his valuable services might be given for the benefit of the institution. In 1835 he learned of the sad condition of the Indians on the Upper Mississippi, and determined to press his way toward these and other poor sufferers. He entered Wisconsin on the 25th of October of the same year. He was then presiding elder of a district extending from Rock Island to the head of the Mississippi, includ- ing the Indian Mission. He concluded, in looking for a place to locate his family, that, as Prairie du Chien seemed to be the outpost of civilization, it would not be wise to go beyond. He could not find a suitable house to rent; and, material for building and labor costing such an enormous sum, he wrote home to his wife, who con- tracted for a boat, and material pre-
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be moved with the family. He reached | delegate to the General Conference home the following February, to find four times; has written much for both religions and secular journals; assisted in building about thirty churches ; has been Instrumental in saving many souls; has preached thousands of ser- mons; and now, in his eighty-third year, can look back over sixty years of honest endeavors to serve God "with a perfect heart and a willing mind," having no regrets, except that he has not done more good, and lived more holy; and is now waiting the call of his divine Master to a better and hap- pler clime. that his faithful wife had made all necessary preparations. During this journey home, he encountered some serious difficulties in fording streams, and among wolves, but was providen- tially preserved from the violence of either. In June, 1836, he put the ma- terial for the house into the boat, with two families beside his own; descended French Creek and the Alleghany River to Pittsburg. There he tied to a steain- boat, and was towed to St. Louis. Then he tied to another steamer, and was towed to Prairie du Chien, nine- Mrs. Emma Brunson. - She was born in Fairfield, near Bridgeport, Conn., Jan. 21, 1791. Her maiden name was Burr. She was a distant relative of Aaron Burr. She was mar- ried to Alfred Brunson in August. 1811, and emigrated with her husband to Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1818. Her husband becoming a Methodist min- ister in 1813, she was made subject to frequent removals, and shared with him the toils and the privations of his life. During her married life, she re- sided in Painesville, Youngstown, and Hubbard, in Ohio, Detroit in Michigan, Alleghany City and Meadville, Penn., and Prairie du Chien, Wis. In 1836 she removed to the last-named place. She died in that village, in 1846, at the age of Afty-five. She was the mother of eight children, all of whom attained their majority. Mrs. Brunson was an intelligent, motherly woman, one who sympathized deeply with the afflicted. She often invited to her house young men who were sick, and away from their own home, and nursed them with a mother's care. By her affectionate kindess and attention, she obtained the cognomen of "Mother Brunson." She was universally re- spected and beloved by all who were acquainted with her. Four of her children are still living. Judge Ira B. Brunson is the only one residing in this State. One of her daughters, the wife of the late Thomas P. Burnet, died the same day that her husband died, and three weeks after her moth- er's death. teen hundred and fifty miles by water from Meadville. He reached his des- tination July 16, 1836. Owing to the pressing wants of the district, the house was not erected until the next spring. He was the first Methodist preacher who ever set foot on the soil north of the Wisconsin River. In 1839 he was com- pelled to resign his ministerial labors because of ill health. Being now with- out income, he accepted several offices of low grade, and, being desirous to attend to matters in court, he was adınitted to the bar on the ground of his former law-reading, and practised for ten years. In 1840 he was elected to the Territorial legislature. In 1842 he was appointed Indian agent at La Pointe in Lake Superior. In 1846 his wife, two daughters, and son-in-law died. In 1850 he was a candidate for the circuit judgeship, but was defeated by those who guarded the rum-traffic. He returned to the ministry, and was appointed at Mineral Point. In 1853 he was made presiding elder of Prairie du Chien district, which included an extensive territory. Under his admin- istration, it was made to flourish, and bear precious fruit, and, at the close of his term of service, was divided into two districts. In 1856 he, with many oth- ers, Invested largely in railroad stock, being deceived by false representations, and lost all they had. In 1862 he was made chaplain in the army; went as far as Kentucky, where he was taken ill, and was compelled to resign his position. In 1867, having partially re- covered, he was made effective in the ministry, and was made presiding elder of a district, but was subsequently twice re-apppointed to other districts. At the close of his four-years' service, he was compelled to retire on account of Ill health.
ORLANDO W. WIGHT. A.M., M.D .- He was born In Centreville, Alleghany County, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1824. His father was a native of New England, and a descendant of Thomas Wight, who emigrated from the Isle of Wight in 1637, and settled at Dedham, Mass. His mother was a Van Buren, and was
During his ministry, he has been sixteen years a presiding elder, and a related to the ex-president. When a
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boy, he worked on his father's farm. At the age of ten he had mastered the branches then taught in the district school. Two years later he attended a scleot school. At the age of fifteen he removed to Westfield, Chautauqua County, with his father's family ; after teaching a short time, resumed his studies at Westfield Academy. Dr. Wight graduated at the age of twenty, at the Collegiate Institute in Roches- ter, after which he taught for one year in the Genoa Academy, Cayuga County. Soon after, he received a professorship in the Cayuga Academy, located at Aurora. The following year he be- came president of the Auburn Female Seminary. His connection with this school was of short duration, on ac- count of the trustecs of the seminary differing in religious views with the newly elected president. He then went to New York City, where he engaged work in the literary department of "The Democratic Review." Soon after, he had similar work on "The Whig Re- view." He was successful in this new vocation. He completed a theological course, and was ordained by the Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin, but declined to sub- scribe to any creed. Soon after, he took charge of a religious society in Newark, N.J., his congregation being made up of Unitarians, Universalists, and Swedenborgians. At the end of three years, he left Newark, and moved to Boston. In 1853 he made his first trip to Europe. In the follow- ing year, he returned home, where he remained but a short time before re- turning to Europe. He was abroad four years, and visited Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and other places. On his return, he settled near New York City. In 1861 Dr. Wight was offered the mission to Switzerland by Mr. Seward, but declined the ap- pointment. In 1863 he removed to Carbondale, Penn., having previously purchased the famous Meredith estate. He remained here two years, and took a somewhat active part in the politics of that State. At the close of the war, he came to Oconomowoc, Wis., where he resided four years, and practised medicine. In 1871 he removed to Mil- waukce, where he still lives. He is now surgeon-general on Gov. Taylor's staff, and is the present State geologist. Dr. Wight possesses great powers of endurance, and employs his energy in constant work.
EDWARD S. BRAGG. - He was born
He attended Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., for three years, and was admit- ted to the bar at Norwich, Chenango County, N.Y., In 1848. In 1850 he came to Fond du Lac, Wis., where he has ever since resided, taking an active place at the bar, and an important position in the general enterprise of that city. In 1854 he was elected district-attorney; and in 1861, when the murmurings of civil war began to be audible, he was among the very first to declare himself unalterably for the Union, and to enlist in its cause. Upon the occasion of the first war-meeting in Fond du Lac, when many of his politi- cal friends were lukewarm and hesi- tating, he made a speech which is pronounced as having been the first great effort of his life. It was indeed powerful, and resulted in calling many strong hearts around the standard of the Union. Shortly after, he enlisted in the service, and was appointed to a captaincy. He promptly raised a com- pany for the Sixth Regiment Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry. His military record is identical with that of the regiment named, and is so well known to the people of the State as not to re- quire repetition here. By well-earned promotion he filled. in regular advance- ment, every field-office in the regiment, and was finally commissioned a briga- dier-general by the President. He com- manded the famous "Iron Brigade" of the Army of the Potomac; and the enthusiastic admiration expressed for him by all of his old comrades bears abundant testimony to his manly and soldierly qualities.
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