USA > Wisconsin > Biographical sketches of old settlers and prominent people of Wisconsin > Part 13
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James J. Dick received his first education in the common schools of Westfield, New York, and later took a full course in the Westfield Aca- demy. In 1856, coming to Westfield, Marquette County, Wis., with his parents, he taught school, and occupied his spare time in reading law until 1860, when he entered the law school of the Albany University, from which in June, 1861, he graduated.
Mr. Dick has the proud satisfaction of knowing that he is a self- made man, for every dollar which he spent for his College education was money which he earned.
In August, 1861, he returned to Beaver Dam, where he had pre- viously taught for two years, and entered into partnership in the practice of law with H. W. Lander, which partnership continued for three years, when Mr. Dick withdrew from the firm and has since prac- ticed alone.
In 1896 he was elected Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which is comprised of the counties of Dodge, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha, and in 1898 was re-elected, his present term expiring in 1906.
Judge Dick is a staunch Democrat but the political arena has had no charms for him, and he has never aspired to, or held any polical office, and the only office he ever held is the present one, except that for over twenty years he was elected and re-elected Superintendent of the Public Schools of Beaver Dam, regardless of politics, which is an evi- dence of his popularity at home, and of his ability and fidelity to trust
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imposed upon him; and the cause of education has always found in him an active supporter.
In August, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Brown, a native of Vermont, and they have a beautiful, comfortable and hospit- able home in the City of Beaver Dam.
Judge Dick is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M., and for a number of years was High Priest of the Chapter. He is an attendant of the Episcopal Church.
In closing this sketch it is due Judge Dick to say that in his pro- fession as a lawyer his character has been above reproach, and his life thoroughly refutes the old saw, "there is no honest lawyer." His record shows that he was always true to the interests of his clients, and that all his cases were managed with skill and ability, and it was these facts that brought him before the people as worthy and competent to fill a judicial position.
Judge Dick is regarded by the bar as having a remarkable faculty for collecting and arranging evidence, and of hearing cases on the broad principles of the essential and constitutional rights of every citizen, and in his judgments, of tempering justice with mercy. He is known among the legal fraternity as a hard worker.
GEORGE L. GIBBS, M. D.
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GEORGE LEWIS GIBBS, M. D.
HE everyday life of a Physician, with its cares, necessities and du- ties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experienceof the very best kind; and its most beaten paths provide the true professional man with abundant scope for his every effort, and plenty of room for self-improvement, especially if he has conscientiously entered upon his ordained life work; and he finds that the principal qualities required are punctuality, accuracy and decision; he finds that difficulties will often disperse themselves before a determination to overcome them, and if there were no difficulties, there would be no success. One of the commendable things with our subject is, he is in love with his chosen profession.
George Lewis Gibbs was born in Farmersville, Dodge County, Wisconsin, March 28, 1867, and is the son of Rev. John Fletcher Gibbs, who was born in Richfield, Herkimer County, New York, and Adelia Malvina (Crossman) Gibbs, who was born in Henderson, Jefferson County, New York, and was the daughter of Charles and Sarah Cross- man, who lived at Brookfield, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died, 1889. John Fletcher Gibbs came to Wisconsin in 1848, settling in the town of Leroy, Dodge County, in which county he lived a number of years, when he removed to Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, about 1874, when our subject was but six years of age, in order that his children might enjoy the advantages of a good High school, as it was his chief desire that they should receive a good education, which, it may be said to their father's credit, they did, and for which they express themselves as feeling very grateful. Three children were born to John F. Gibbs and wife, namely: Jennie Bell, born at Farmersville, Dodge County, June 7, 1869, married Elias M. Thayer of Milwaukee, Chief Train-dispatcher of the La Crosse division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. They have two children, Helen Adelia, born July 14, 1894, and Henry John, born September 9, 1896, both born in Milwaukee; John Wesley, born May 25, 1874, at Farmersville, married Edna Alderman. He is now Station Agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Round Bluff, Wisconsin, and has one son, Harold Alderman, born in Mauston, Wisconsin, September 7, 1899; and George Lewis, our subject.
Dr. George Lewis Gibbs attended the Oconomowoc High school and afterwards went to Chicago to pursue a course in medicine at the Hahn- aman Medical College, from which he graduated with high honors in 1890. Since then he has continually practiced his profession, and in October, 1895, he moved to Marshall, Dane County, Wisconsin, where he now resides in the enjoyment of a very lucrative practice. His early boyhood was spent on a farm.
Dr. Gibbs was married in Milwaukee June 9, 1891, to Miss Perle Martin, who was born March 28, 1873, and was the daughter of Nelson Dean and Lettie (Mapes) Martin. They have one son, Darrel Dean, born in Marshall, Wisconsin, May 30 (Decoration day), 1898.
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REV. ALOISIUS JOSEPH KUEHNE,
HARACTER is a creature of slow growth; it buds in infancy, blossoms in childhood and has its fruitage in later years. It was with a high conception of the priesthood, and a devotion to the church that our subject in early life resolved to study for a priest. He was the grandson of John Egid Kuehne, born 1790 at Kaltbrunn, Canton St. Gall, Switzerland, and who died in 1825, and Mary Josefa (Tremp) Kuehne, who died in 1827. They had three sons, Anton Joseph being the oldest, who was born September 20, 1820, at Kalt- brunn, Canton St. Gall, Switzerland, and who was married June 30, 1845, at the same place, to A. M. Catharine Zahner, who was born at the same place January 19, 1825, and whose parents were Januarius Zahner and Catharine (Thoma) Zahner. In 1847 they left for America on a sail- ing vessel from Paris, with twenty passengers from Switzerland. The sea was stormy, and they were sixty-two days out, leaving Paris on the 21st day of March and arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 22d day of May. From there they went to Louisville, Kentucky, where they remained for five years, Mr. Kuchne working at his trade of shoemaker. They then moved to Lanesville, Indiana, and in 1856 went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1873 he was selected janitor of St. Joseph's church of that city. In 1883 they moved to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1895, when they returned to Milwaukee, where Mr. Kuehne died, March 18, 1899. Mrs. Kuehne is now living with her son and daughter at Sun Prairie.
They had eight children, of whom five died in childhood. Jose- phine was born at Louisville, Kentucky, December 19, 1847, and was married to Joseph Roehl at Milwaukee, September 11. 1866; Mary Anna was born at Lanesville, Indiana, May 21, 1852, and has been her brother's (Father Kuehne) housekeeper since 1880; Aloisius Joseph was born in Milwaukee, July 19, 1857, and attended St. Joseph's school in that city until he was thirteen years of age, when he commenced to study under private instructors, and devoted much time to Latin and Greek, and so thoroughly had been his application to the classics that on presenting himself at St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee in Septem- ber, 1873, as a candidate for the priesthood, he was admitted to the third class, (i. e., third year.) In 1876 he was admitted to the philosoph- ical and theological course. In the spring of 1879 he received minor orders; March 13-14, 1880, was made Sub-Deacon, and Deaconship, and in May of the same year preached his first sermon in St. Joseph's Church, Milwaukee.
Father Kuehne was ordained to the Catholic priesthood June 27, 1880, by Archbishop Heiss, D. D., and celebrated his first mass in the same church on the 4th day of July, and was immediately placed in
REV. A. J. KUEHNE.
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charge of the Catholic congregation at Franklin, near Milwaukee, whose pastor was in Europe, and on September 17, 1880, Father Knehne took charge of his present congregation of the Sacred Heart at Sun Prairie, with St. Patrick's congregation at Cottage Grove as an out-mission. He also attended St. Joseph's congregation at Waterloo until May 1881. When Father Kuehne went to Sun Prairie there were only sixty families in his congregation, which now numbers 175. In 1886-87 the congrega- tion' built a church edifice costing $15,000, in 1891 a dwelling for the parochial school teachers at $2,500, and in 1892 a pastor's residence at $4,000. In October, 1892, their parochial school was opened with an attendance of eighty-five pupils, taught by two Sisters from the Notre Dame Convent at Milwaukee. The old church building was remodeled for a school house. The members are mostly American born, of Irish and German descent.
Father Kuehne's ministry should be an inspiration to every Amer- ican youth; his honesty, integrity, earnestness and ability in his chosen life-work proves to the youth of our land that these qualities are always recognized in any young man, and carry the sure prestige of success.
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MRS, JOHN SHERIDAN. [DECEASED. ]
N 1847, when but few acres of the virgin soil of Jefferson County, Wis- consin, had been turned by the hands of pioneers. and nature's own handwork was everywhere undisturbed in the fullness of its primi - tive splendor, and at a time when the state was thinly populated. and settlements were widely separate, John Sheridan settled upon a tract of land located two and a half miles south-east of the present Village of Waterloo, on what is now known as the "Island. " on Section 9 of the town of Waterloo.
In 1848. he was united in marriage to Bridget Byrne, whose por- trait accompanies this sketch. She was the daughter of James Byrne. and was born in the County of Carlow, Ireland, May 10. 1817, and her husband, John Sheridan. was born in the County of Armagh. Ireland, April 14. 1813. By their combined industry they succeeded in acquir- ing and improving a farm of two hundred acres, now owned and oper- ated by their oldest son. Peter F. Sheridan. During the earlier years of their married life, they were domiciled in a log cottage. where all their children were born.
On November 21. 1871. the husband and father died. aged 58 years. 7 months and 7 days. leaving the mother to care for the home and family. The task that fate imposed upon her was faithfully performed. Her life was an exemplification of a true mother's devotion to her family. and of a kind and hospitable spirit towards her neighbors. On the 26th of December. 1893. death's summons came, bringing to a close a life of in- dustry, love and hospitality. She was 76 years. 7 months and 16 days old.
Their family consisted of five children. namely: Peter F .. born April 4, 1853: John, born September. 1855: Thomas. barn July 6. 1857: Anna (now Mrs. J. M. MeCormick), barn June 27. 1858, and James A., born December 12, 1361. all of whom are now living.
MRS. JOHN SHERIDAN.
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GEORGE ELLIOTT ALLEN, V. S.
T is the practical which deals with life as a fact and not as a dream; a truism which was early recognized by George Elliott Allen, who is the son of Albert Josiah and Lucinda Gregg (Tracy) Allen, and was born at Boston, Ohio, July 6, 1837, where he remained with his parents until their removal to the town of Medina, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1845.
George, after obtaining a common school education, and being a very ingenious boy, quickly learned to successfully accomplish every task he undertook. He first learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked for a few years, when he took up the trade of painter, which trade he fol- lowed until compelled to abandon it on account of failing health. He then attended a Veterinary school, from which he graduated and has since been a successful practitioner in his chosen profession, and at this time is practicing in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where he has built up an enviable reputation.
He was married April 20, 1862, to Fannie Eliza Parsons of Marshall, Wisconsin, she being the daughter of Urbin Parsons, one of the oldest settlers in the town of Medina. She was born August 28, 1841. No children were born to them, but January, 1874, they adopted the only child of his sister Susan Clements, who having died left a daughter, Belle Lois Alma Clements, who was but a little over four years of age when Mr. and Mrs. Allen adopted her, and to them she proved a very kind, respectful and dutiful daughter. She was born at Rochester, Minnesota, June 15, 1869, and died at Fort Atkinson, February 22, 1891, at the age of 21 years, 7 months and 7 days, and on the 25th day of Feb- ruary they laid her at rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fort Atkinson.
Dr. George E. Allen, on the paternal side, is the great-grandson of Josiah and Elizabeth (Rose) Allen, the latter having died, Josiah mar- ried Mrs. Mary Negus Babcock; and on the maternal side, of Owen Tracy, who was born in Kilkenny, Tipperary Parish, Ireland, and emigrated across the ocean when but 21 years of age, settling first in Canada and later in New Hampshire and Vermont. He married Thular Willard, it is supposed of New Hampshire.
Dr. Allen, on the paternal side is the grandson of David Allen, who was born in Vermont, March 1, 1790, and Lucy (Berry) Allen who was born in Vermont October 22, 1795 and they were married in Pompey, Onondagua County, New York, having had thirteen children, seven boys and six girls, born to them, namely: David, Albert Josiah, John, Samuel, Hiram, Boardman, Robert, Laura, Emily, Lucy, Lydia, Martha and Mary. On the maternal side his grandparents were John Tracy, who was born in Ashworth, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, May 12, 1780, and Jemima (Welch) Tracy, who was born at Unity, the same
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county, June 20, 1796 and died in Medina, Wisconsin, in 1874. They were married at Ashworth, New Hampshire, in 1817. Her parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Huntoon) Welch and they were married in Eng- land.
Dr. Allen's father was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1813, and his mother was born December 3, 1819, in New Hamp- shire; they were married in Medina, Ohio, May 14, 1836, and moved from New Hampshire to Vermont and later to Ohio, then to Wis- consin in the fall of 1845, where they shared the privations of the early settlers. They had four children born to them, two boys and two girls, viz .: George Elliott; Mary Helen, born December, 1838, married April 27, 1871, to John S. Anner who now lives at Shell Rock, Iowa, and they had one son, J. F. Anner, born September 22, 1872, and now a practicing physician at Osage, Iowa; John Tracy, born March 28, 1840, married Mary Perry in Medina, Wisconsin, and had five children, viz .: Millie, George, Albert, Frank and Flora, all born in Minnesota, except Millie, who was born in Wisconsin. John Tracy moved to Min- nesota in 1864, and there enlisted in Company E, Forty-eighth Wiscon- sin Volunteers. He died in October, 1898; Susan Marier, born Septem- ber 1, 1844, married Wade Clements April 27, 1866, and had one child. Susan died September 16, 1873, and her child was adopted by her brother George and his wife.
Dr. Allen is a reliable Republican, a man of known temperance repu- tation and is today respected by all who know him.
[FOR PORTRAIT see page 249.]
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GARRETT PORTER.
BURICK INGRAHAM. DR. G. E. ALLEN.
ASA PORTER.
MOSES WETMORE, SR.
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ELISHA W. KEYES.
LISHA W. KEYES, politician and lawyer, was born in Northfield, Vermont, January 23, 1828, son of Captain Joseph and Olive Williams Keyes. His father was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Wisconsin Territory, going out there as a prospector in 1836, his family following him the succeeding spring and settling in Milwaukee. In the latter part of 1837, Captain Keyes removed with his family to the township of Lake Mills, where he had the previous year lo- cated a claim. Here young Keyes worked upon the farm, and as a saw mill hand, attending the district school of the territory when possible for him to do so. During the winter of 1847-48 he attended for two terms Beloit Seminary, where he spent another term in 1850. In December, 1850, he removed to Madison, Wisconsin, where he commenced the study of law in the office of Collins and Smith, and, after his admission to the bar, October 17, 1851, he at once began the practice of his profession. Even at this time he was an active worker in politics, and in the spring of 1852, under Fillmore's administration, young Keyes was appointed special agent of the post-office department by Postmaster-General N. K. Hall. In 1853 he was admitted to the law firm of Collins & Smith, which was afterwards known as Collins, Smith & Keyes, and which, upon the election of Mr. Collins to the Circuit bench in January, 1855, became the firm of Smith & Keyes, and had a large practice until it was dissolved in 1862. Mr. Keyes was a law partner of the late Chief Justice Harlow S. Orton, at the time the latter was elected to the bench. During 1859-60 Mr. Keyes was the District Attorney of Dane County, and in April, 1861, was appointed by President Lincoln, Postmaster at Madison. In this position he served for twenty-one years, continuously, during which time, in addition to his office duties, he devoted himself mainly to Repub- lican politics. In 1898, he again became Postmaster of Madison, being appointed by President McKinley. For many years he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and for ten years was the Chairman of that organization. In 1865 he was elected Mayor of Madi- son, the first Republican elected to that office, and in 1866 was re-elected without opposition. He was also elected Mayor in 1886. In 1882 he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the state. In 1871, Mr. Keyes was appointed by the Secretary of War, Attorney for the Government in its arbitration between the United States and the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company. The taking of testimony consumed the whole of the summer, and resulted in finding for the company an award of $145,000.00. Congress afterwards appropriated this sum, and the Government secured the line of improvement of the company. Great credit was given to Mr. Keyes for the able manner in which he con-
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ducted this case. In 1877, he was appointed Regent of the State Univer- sity, which position he held for twelve years.
Mr. Keyes was a delegate and Chairman of the Wisconsin delegation to the Republican Convention at Philadelphia in 1872, which renominated General Grant for the Presidency. He held the same position in the Republican National Convention at Cincinnati in 1876, which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes, and was again Chairman of the Wisconsin delega- tion of the National Convention in Chicago in 1884, which nominated James G. Blaine. During the years that he was a member and Chair- man of the State Central Committee he did most of the work of perfecting the organization of the Republican party in the state, and was an impor- tant factor in helping on the succession of victories which the party achieved under his leadership. In 1879, he was a candidate for United States Senator. It was one of the most famous contests in the history of Wisconsin, a triangular contest with Senator T. O. Howe, Matt. H. Carpenter and E. W. Keyes, in which the latter led during an hundred ballotings, but he finally withdrew his name in favor of his friend Matthew Hale Carpenter, who was nominated by acclamation. In 1881, Mr. Keyes was again a candidate for United States Senator, but he was defeated. After 1881, he devoted himself almost entirely to the practice of law, and to his real estate business. In February, 1889, he was appointed Municipal Judge of Dane County by the Governor to fill a vacancy, and in April of the same year, he was elected by a large majority to serve the unexpired term of Judge A. B. Braley, which ter- minated January 1, 1893. Since then Mr. Keyes has led a quiet life, and, although deeply interested in politics, has refrained from active partic- ipation in political affairs. He has been married three times: first in New York City, May, 1854, to Caroline Stevens, who died in 1865, leaving him three children; second, in 1867, to Mrs. Louise Sholes, by whom he had one son; and third, in 1888, to Mrs. Eliza M. Reeves.
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ELISHA W. KEYES.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN RICHMOND DECKER.
OHN RICHMOND DECKER was born at Sinclearville, Chautau- qua County, New York, February 28, 1842. His parents were Stephen and Sylvania (Truman) Decker. His father was born at Hoosick, New York. His grandfather, Christopher Decker, came to Hoosick from Swanton, Canada. His grandmother Decker's maiden name was Phebe Cushman, and is said to have been a relative of Char- lotte Cushman, the actress.
Mr. Decker's mother, whose maiden name was Sylvania T. Rich- mond, was born at Bennington, Vermont, in sight of the Bennington battlefield. His grandfather, John Richmond, was the last of that name of his branch of the family of Richmonds whose ancestry is recorded from the year 1040. The family had its origin.in Brittany, France, and Roaldus Musard de Richmond was one of the most powerful leaders who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. From him the descent is traced through seventeen generations to John Richmond, and is a part of the history of England. John Richmond was born in 1594, and came to America in 1635, to become one of the purchasers of Taunton, Mass- achusetts, two years later. From him the subject of this sketch is a descendant in the eighth generation. Through the Richmonds Mr. Decker is also a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullens, and of Thomas Rogers, pilgrims of the Mayflower.
Mr. Decker had one sister, Eliza, born October 16, 1827, who died November 24, 1893. She was married in 1851 to Ira Conner, who died in 1890. They had no children. Mr. Decker's father died in 1886, and his mother a few years later.
When about two and a half years old, Mr. Decker removed with his parents to Erie County, New York, and in 1855 to Wisconsin, settling at Waupun, where his father who had been a farmer in the East, returned to his trade of wagon maker. He attended the high school there, and in 1859 entered the WAUPUN TIMES printing office, subsequently working as an apprentice in Beeson's job office at Fond du Lac, and being em- ployed in other offices, until 1867 he bought the WAUPUN TIMES office, one year later selling it, and in the fall of 1868 establishing the COLUMBUS REPUBLICAN, which after over thirty-one years he still owns and con- ducts. The REPUBLICAN office has always maintained a high reputation for fine job printing.
Mr. Decker was married April 26, 1866, to Harriet Emily Shelma- dine, who died November 7, 1869, leaving him two children, Minnie Josephine, and Ray. He married Susan Carhart Hawxhurst November 25, 1870, who died Augugt 10, 1874. Susan's only child, Myrta, died two days later. Ray had died in March of 1874.
Mr. Decker was again married September 8, 1875, to Emma Luela
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Holmes, of Portage, the family consisting in 1900 of Mr. and Mrs. Decker, his daughter Minnie, and Mrs. Decker's father in his 93d year.
Mr. Decker has been a Justice of the Peace for six years, Chairman of the County Board four years, Postmaster under President Harrison four years. He is a Mason of the R. A. degree, and a charter member of the Columbus Camp of M. W. of A.
Mr. Decker is a Republican in politics and religion.
JOHN R. DECKER.
1
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HON. MIC ADAMS.
MONG the prominent men of Wisconsin, we note Hon. Mic Adams, of the city of Columbus, who was born October 28, 1831, at Western, Oneida County, New York. His father, George Adams, was born at Little Falls, New York, in 1802, and died in Elba, Dodge County, Wisconsin, in March, 1873. His mother's maiden name was Mary Keller. She was born at Herkimer, New York, in 1804, and died in Elba in June of 1892. His grandfather was George Adams, who enlisted and was killed in the war of 1812. His great-grandfathers on both sides were soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and lost their lives in the Continental service. His great-grandfather's name was John Adams.
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