USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 142
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WILLIAM F. ALLEN, A. M., Professor of Latin and History in the University of Wis- consin; was born in Northboro, Mass., Sept. 5, 1830 ; he fitted for college partly at home and partly at Leicester Academy and Roxbury Latin School ; he entered Harvard in 1847, and graduated in 1851; he then taught for three years as private instructor in New York City; in 1854, he went to Europe, study- ing one term of six months at Berlin and one at Goettingen ; he then went to Italy in the autumn of 1855, giving three months at Rome chiefly to the study of the topography of the Ancient City ; he next visited Naples and Greece, returning to the United States in 1856 ; for the next seven years, Prof. Allen taught in the English and Classical School in West Newton, Mass. He was married, July 2, 1862, to Mary T. Lambert, of West Newton, Mass. ; she died March 25, 1865, leaving one child-Katharine. He spent two years in the South in the service of the Freedmen's and Western Sanitary Commission, returning to the North in 1865; he was for one year the Professor of Ancient Languages at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and one year in Eagleswood Military Academy, Perth Amboy, N. J., and in 1867 he was elected to the professorship of Ancient Languages and History in the University of Wisconsin ; in 1870, his chair was changed to that of Latin and History, and this position he continues to hold; since 1861, he has been a liberal contributor to general literature, and a well-known author of several standard classical works ; a full account of his publications will be found in the chapter on authors in this volume. He was married, June 30, 1868, to Miss Margaret L. Andrews, of Newburyport, Mass. ; they have three children-Andrews, William W. and Philip. Their home is on Langdon street, is a substantial brick residence, surrounded with spacious grounds, well ornamented. Prof. Allen is a Director of the Madison Free Library, and a Trustee of Unitarian Church; as a teacher of Latin, he is precise and accurate, he lays especial stress upon literary and historical point of view ; his favorite field of investigation is history and antiquities, particularly those of Rome and the Middle Ages ; it is probable that no American scholar has a better knowledge of Roman antiquities than Prof. Allen.
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PROF. JOHN J. ANDERSON, A. M., Principal of Monona Academy ; he was born in 1841, in the neighborhood of Skien, in Southeastern Norway; came with his parents to the United States in 1843, and settled in the township of Norway, Racine Co., Wis .; he entered the Preparatory Department of Beloit College in 1860 ; graduated from Beloit College in the Class of '69; his health preventing continuous study, he taught several terms in the public schools while pursuing his college course, and also, while in college, he taught classes in the preparatory department. He also enlisted with the hundred-day men, and served five months in Co. I, 40th W. V. I. On graduation, he immediately took charge of Marshall Academy, Dane Co., where he remained five years ; in the next two years, he completed the regular theological course, mainly at Philadelphia; in 1876, he was elected Principal of Monona Academy, which position he now holds. The attendance is quite uniform at seventy-five stu- dents, all Norwegians. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Harriet Atwood Mattson, of Lake Mills; they have one child-Henry C .; she was for four years Preceptress at Marshall Academy, and is a lady of literary and general culture; she is a correspondent of several periodicals, and has published some popular translations of Norse literature ; she is in delicate health. Prof. Anderson is correspondent of several church journals and other publications ; he has the manuscript of a Norwegian Reader nearly ready for publication ; his library numbers about one thousand volumes, and its literary, classic and scientific departments are well selected. He has been especially successful in teaching mathematics, and has also given much attention to the languages of the North-Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon-and is a close student of English literature.
RASMUS B. ANDERSON, A. M., Professor of Scandinavian Languages and Literature in the University of Wisconsin ; he is the first native-born citizen of Wisconsin honored with a full professorship in the institution ; he was born Jan. 12, 1846, in Albion, Dane Co., Wis .; his parents came to America from Norway in 1835 ; his father was Bjorn Anderson, the noted pioneer leader ; his mother, a daughter of Col. Von Krogh, of the army of Sweden and Norway; his father was the leader of the first large company of emigrants that came from Norway to the United States; he settled in Wisconsin in September, 1841. He early evinced energy and love of learning, got through the home common school at 12, and sought further instruction of the Lutheran parish pricst, who endeavored to sccure his talents for the church ; at 14, he began to shape his own career ; was three years at Decorah College, Iowa, and except during that time, directed his own studies, while supporting himself; in June, 1866, he became Professor of Greek and Modern Languages at Albion Academy, in his native county; this position he held nearly three years, drawing into the institution a large number of Scandinavian pupils ; he spent one season as student in the post-graduate course in the University of Wisconsin; he was appointed instructor in languages in that institution in the summer of 1869, which position he held till 1875, when the chair of Scandinavian Languages and Literature was created for him, which position he continues to fill with credit and ability. His purpose, which is now bearing fruit, has been to draw the sons and daughters of Scandinavians of the Northwest into the American common schools and universities. The Scandinavian priests establish parochial schools and church colleges, and would keep their people in isolated communi- ties. Prof. Anderson's controversies with them have concerned this tendency. His motto is; " Whoso- ever directly or indirectly opposes the American common school is an enemy of education, liberty and progress ; opposition to the common school is treason to our country:" He has brought to the university an average yearly attendance of twenty-five Scandinavian students, and the number is constantly increasing. He was married, in July, 1868, to Miss B. Carina Olson, of Cambridge, Wis .; she is a native of Norway; they have three children-Carletta C., George K. and Hjalmar Odin. Their resi- dence is on Washington avenue. Since 1877, he has been Librarian of the university. Through his agency was obtained the " John A. Johnson fund," for the aid of indigent Scandinavian students, and " Miner's" library of over one thousand choice Scandinavian works. Ole Bull, the world-renowned violinist, rendered him much assistance in founding his library ; he also gained valuable contributions when in Norway with the distinguished violinist in 1872 and 1873. He is one of the State Board of Visitors to the Platteville Normal Schools. His first contributions for the press were made in 1865, at the age of 19. He has accumulated a large, unique private Scandinavian library. He reads English, Anglo-Saxon, all the Scandinavian tongues, modern and old German, French, Greek and Latin. He has lectured extensively in the Northwest, both in English and Norwegian, and, in 1877-78, gave by invitation four lectures on " Norse Mythology," the " Niblung Story," etc., before the Baltimore Peabody Institute, to crowded and enthusiastic houses ; in 1875, he was elected honorary member of the Icelandic Literary Society ; in 1877, and again in 1879, he was appointed delegate to the " Congres International des Ameri- canistes," and, in 1880, was made member of a Danish society for the promulgation of old Norse literature. Because of his translations, works and lectures, Prof. Anderson has been called the father of Norse litera-
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ture in America. As a contributor to the periodical press, and as an author of books for general reading, no other citizen of Wisconsin has gained so extended a reputation ; his publications, both in the English language and the Norwegian, show him to be one of the ablest and most prolific writers of the country. His works are of cosmopolitan reputation. Biographies of the Professor have been published both in Europe and America. An interesting enumeration of his literary labors appears in the chapter on Authors in this volume. Prof. Anderson has received appreciative reviews of books from many of the ablest critics both in our own and foreign lands. The idea of erecting a monument to Leif Erikson, claimed to be the discoverer of America, was first suggested by Prof. Anderson ; by the co-operation of influcatial Scandinavian friends, especially in Boston, a sum sufficient has been raised, and the monument will soon adorn Post Office Square in Boston. As a teacher of Scandinavian languages, Prof. Anderson is painstaking, thorough and very enthusiastic ; he is popular with the students under his instruction, and has a happy faculty of filling their minds with the zeal so characteristic of himself as an educator and writer. Although circumstances and devotion to his work have led Prof. Anderson into sundry sharp public controversies, he is in his private intercourse a thoroughly genial man, loyal in all the relations of life. Socially, he is affable and unpretentious, yet a tireless worker. Although still a young man, he has accomplished enough to satisfy many for a long life. His career has been marked by a steady growth of power.
S. J. ASKEW, (nee Livesey), millinery and fancy goods, also agent for E. Butterick & Co.'s patterns; she is a native of New Jersey, and is of English parentage, and the eldest of twelve children ; came to Madison in 1853, and this city has since been her home ; was educated in Madison and Sank City, Wis. Her mother died Christmas, 1872, and in July, 1873, she opened a general millinery store, and the same season secured the agency for Butterick's patterns ; her store is in Ogden's Block, and residence corner of Dayton street and Wisconsin avenue. She was married, Dec. 31, 1879, to Charles Askew, a machinist and veteran mechanic of Madison, who owns shop corner Lake and King streets ; he is a native of En- gland ; both are Episcopalians ; she is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
GEN. DAVID ATWOOD was born in Bedford, N. H., December,'1815 ; he belongs to a vigor- ous and long-lived family ; his father at the age of 90 was living at the old homestead ; like most New England boys, young Atwood worked on the farm during the summer and attended the district school in the win- ter; the summers being short in that latitude, the work was continuous; there was but little time for relaxation, none for idleness ; the winters were severely cold, and the pathway to school was frequently obstructed by snow drifts; in his 16th year, he accompanied an older brother to Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., where he commenced working at a printer's case; his employers were law-book publishers ; he re- mained there five years and became master of his craft before visiting home ; after this he traveled for a number of years; visited every place of note in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and every organized county in Indiana ; Chicago he remembers as a village in a swamp, with muddy and almost impassable strecta, and a little wooden hotel not far from the present site of the Tremont House; he was highly pleased with the West and had a tempting offer to engage in business in Cincinnati, but declined, and re- turned to Hamilton in 1839, where, with his brother, he undertook the publication of the Hamilton Palladium, a weekly newspaper, which he continued for five years ; the paper paid expenses and nothing more ; overworked and broken in health in the political campaign that culminated in the defeat of Clay, a campaign so gallantly fought and so foolishly lost, Col. Atwood set his face to the westward, determined to abandon the editorial life; he purchased a farm near Freeport, Ill. ; at that time it took nearly six weeks of slow and toilsome travel to get from Hamilton to his new home. In the summer of 1845, he put in a crop of wheat, was very hopeful, but the crop failed ; then tried sheep, and one-half of the flock died the first winter ; misfortune followed misfortune, and. he was surrounded by distress and discouragement on every side. Two years spent on a farm had restored his health and exhausted his funds, and furnished him with all of the experience in agriculture he deemed it advisable to indulge in ; selling out, he determined to engage again in editorial labors; no place scemed so attractive to him then as the thriving Territory of Wisconsin ; in casting about for a good place to settle, he found no spot so inviting as Madison, the capital of the Territory, and on reaching it he immediately became connected with the Madison Express. The capital was then a small village, and there was but little business such as was derived directly or indirectly from the public printing ; his duties were ardnous and varied ; to use his own words in the Dane Co. press, " Editor, reporter, compositor, foreman and all hands." He reported the proceedings of the last two sessions of the Territorial Legislature convened at Madison, and the entire proceedings of the Constitu- tional Convention. In September, 1852, Gen. Atwood commenced the publication of the Daily State Journal, and still continues it ; about a year after the Journal was established, he associated with him the
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Hon. Horace Rublee, now Minister resident of the United States to Switzerland ; the Journal took a leading position, became firmly established and is increasing in usefulness ; it is Republican in politics, enterprising and devoted to the best interests of the State; its power has always been wielded for the pub- lic good ; it is the life work and monument of Gen. Atwood; he was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Republican party in 1854, and was appointed, in 1855, Clerk of the first Republican Assembly ever elected. In 1858, he was commissioned Major General of the 5th Division of State militia. Iu 1860, he was chosen a member of the Legislature. He was appointed United States Asscssor upon the creation of that office; he was Mayor of Madison in 1868. In January, 1870, Hon. B. F. Hopkins, member of Congress, died, and Mr. Atwood was at once elected to fill the vacancy thus created without any opposing candidate; he took his seat on the 23d day of February, 1870, He obtained appropriations for completing and furnishing the United States Court House and Post Office at Madison ; he labored diligently for the passages of these bills, and declined re-election. He has been thirteen years Treasurer of the State Agricultural Society ; twenty-four years a Director, and for a number of years President of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, and for years Trustee of the State Hos- pital for the Insane. The maiden name of Mrs. Atwood was Mary Sweeney.
DAVID BACK is the son of Peter and Willina Back, and was born in Prussia, Oct. 2, 1852; came to America with his parents, and direct to Barry, Dane Co., Wis., about twenty-six years ago ; for about twenty-two years, was settled on a farm ; in 1876, he removed to Madison, Wis., and, in 1878, he began his present business. July 6, 1873, Mr. B. was married to Miss Christina Von Hatten, who was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 1, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. B. have had four children, of whom but one is now living, viz., Flora, who was born July 4, 1875; they belong to the German Catholic Church.
MYRON T. BAILEY was born in Ticonderoga, N. Y., Sept. 21, 1831 ; came to the town of Sun Prairie, Dane Co., in September, 1846 (with his father, who died there July 31, 1872, a native of Manchester, Vt.); remained there until about 1851, then came to Madison and clerked in post office, and studied law about a year ; afterward he went to Appleton, spent one year in school in Law- rence University Preparatory Department ; then was at Sun Prairie one year; in 1856, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Dane Co., and has lived in Madison ever since ; was Assistant Treasury Agent several years ; member of Council four years; for about two years before the close of the war he was in Arkansas and Missouri, in Commissary Department. Was married at Hartland, Waukesha Co., Dec. 13, 1855, to Marian E. Wightman ; she was born in Canandaigua, N. Y .; they have had one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Bailey is now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace ; is a member of the Temple of Honor, Madison Relief Association and Madison, Yacht Club ; was the first Commodore of the Yacht Club, and held the position three years.
PHINEAS BALDWIN was born in the town of Oxford, Kent Co., Canada West, Dec. 4, 1824; is the son of David S. Baldwin, who settled on Scc. 26, in the town of Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., in 1849, and died in the fall of 1854. Phineas B. lived in Canada previous to his coming to Wisconsin ; was in St. Catha- rines, some time, and was engaged in wood-turning and storekeeping, prior to coming to Dane Co., in Feb- ruary, 1854, locating on Sec. 34, which property he still owns ; has been Supervisor of his town about fifteen years, and Justice of the Peace twenty years; member of the Assembly in 1872 and 1877; elected Sheriff in the fall of 1878. Was married at Janesville, April 12, 1855, to Eliza M. Montgomery.
ALONZO G. BARKER, freight and ticket agent of C. &. N. W. R. R. ; was born in Bangor, Me., in 1846, and in 1855 came to Blooming Grove Township, Danc Co., where he lived until 1862 ; he was educated with his uncle, in Lec Center, Lee Co., Ill. ; from 1863 to 1874, was in the employ of the American Express Company. Was married, in 1870, to Miss C. H. Clapp, of Hartford, Conn., who died in 1874; in March, 1876, he entered the service of the C. & N. W. R. R. Co., in present capacity. His present wife's maiden name was Ida Karne, of Madison, and they were married in 1877; they have one daughter, Bessie L. He was the first Republican Alderman elected from the Third Ward ; is a member of the A., F. & A. M .; family affiliate with the Episcopal Church ; owns a farm of 50 acres, between Second and Third Lakes, and is devoted to general farming ; owns a residence, corner of Jemfer and Brearly streets, Third Ward ; is a genial, competent official, and a respected citizen.
CAPT. FRANK BARNES, proprictor of the Scutanawbeguon (Fire Canoe) ; was born in Rhode Island in October, 1829 ; is the son of Amos and Margaret Dickens Barnes, of Westerly, R. I .; both grandfathers were seafaring men and coasters ; Frank worked several years as carpenter and joiner ; he came to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled in Whitewater, Walworth Co., where for eight years he worked at his trade ; he built several row and sail boats, and in 1864, he built the side-wheel steamer " Scutanawbe- quon," and launched it July 21, 1864, on Lake Monona ; this was the first steamer on the Four Lakes;
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. his present boat is the third one built by him, and named "Scutanawbequon," which he says means " Fire Canoe." He was married in October, 1867, to Miss Kate G. Tarr, of Whitewater, Wis. In 1870, he bought 10 acres of land on southwest bank of Lake Monona, including the old Indian garden and water- ing-place known as " Winnequah," which signifies " good water ; " to this point he runs his boat at brief intervals from " Angle Worm Station." Mrs. Barnes is an Episcopalian. Capt. Barnes is a social philos- opher, well known to pleasure-seekers in Madison.
Q. H. BARRON was born in Rockingham, at Saxton's River Village, Windham Co., Vt., May 26,1810; moved from there to Mount Morris, N. Y., in 1824, engaged in mercantile business most of the time at Nunda, for about ten years prior to his coming to Wisconsin, in September, 1844, and in December of same year, he located at Fox Lake ; was one of the first settlers in that section of the State, and has since resided there; engaged in farming on Secs. 33, 34, Township 12, Range 13, and remained at that business most of the time until 1868; was part of the time engaged in keeping hotel at Fox Lake ; after 1868 his sole bus- iness was hotel-keeping, until 1878, when he was appointed Superintendent of public property ; since liv- ing at Fox Lake, he has served as Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years, Chairman Board of Super- visors twice, Assessor twelve years, member of the Assembly in 1857 and in 1862 ; was Assistant Ser- geant-at Arms in 1858. Married at Nunda, September, 1835, Sylvia H. Ashley; she was born in Whites -- boro, Oneida Co., N. Y. Now resides at Fox Lake. Mr. Barron is still a resident of Fox Lake.
JOHN BASCOM, LL. D., D. D., President of the University of Wisconsin, holds an eminent position as a writer on philosophy, psychology, aesthetics and the social sciences ; a comprehensive notice of his literary labors appears in this volume in the chapter on Authors; Dr. Bascom was born on the 1st day of May, 1827, in Genoa, N. Y. His father, John Bascom, was a Congregational clergyman in Chester, Mass. ; his grandfather, Aaron Bascom, was also a Congregational preacher; he fitted for college at Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., and graduated at Williams College in 1849; he took a course in theology at Auburn and at Andover, graduating at the latter Seminary in 1855 ; since that time he has been an exceedingly diligent and productive author of books and of contributions to our periodical litera- ture; in Rochester, N. Y., he read law one year, but did not enter upon its practice. He was married on the 24th of December, 1852, to Miss Abbie Burt, of Great Barrington, Mass., who died in August, 1854, leaving no issue. In 1855, he was elected Professor of Rhetoric in Williams College; a severe affection of the eyes had rendered him nearly blind, and for the first six years of his professorship, all his literary work, both of acquisition and composition, was performed by the aid of an amanuensis. Amherst College, in 1873, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, and Grinnell College, in 1875, that of Doctor of Divinity ; he continued to occupy the Chair of Rhetoric in Williams College until 1874, with the . exception of one year, during which he was absent ou a visit to Europe. He was married to Miss Emma Curtiss, of Sheffield, Mass., on the 8th of January, 1856; they have had five children-George Mooar, born May 27, 1857; Jennie, born April 13, 1859 ; Emma, born June 3, 1861, died Feb. 22, 1879; Florence, born July 14, 1862, and Mabel, who was born Aug. 3, 1867, and died in August, 1868. Dr. Bascom, in 1874, came to Wisconsin as President of the University of Wisconsin ; under his able manage- ment and watchful care the University has made rapid progress ; several important changes and improve- meats affecting the university have resulted during his presidency ; the first change was the removal of all remaining traces of distinction in instruction and opportunities between the sexes; the next step was securing the erection of the Hall of Science ; in this building the scientific instruction of the University is gathered and sustained by abundant appliances; the next was the obtaining of a more extended and permanent income for the institution ; then followed the securing of an astronomical observatory, erected and furnished by ex-Gov. C. C. Washburn, of Wisconsin ; another progressive step was the erection of a library and assembly hall ; the terms of admission to the university have been advanced, and the instruc- tional force of the institution increased ; his broad and enlightened views on education have been fruitful of a vast amount of good, not only to the university over which he presides, but also to the State and country ; he is an excellent teacher, an impressive speaker, and, amid all his administrative duties, none of which he allows to suffer from want of his personal attention, he finds time to do a surprising amount of solid literary work ; all his works have a philosophical bearing, all are analytical in their treatment of sub- jects, and all are characterized by their depth of thought. He is firmly in line with the great liberal thinkers of the age; his writings arouse thought and provoke discussion ; he is a close student and a ripe scholar.
ROBERT McKEE BASHFORD, the son of Samuel Morris and Mary Ann Bashford, was boro at Fayette, La Fayette Co., Wis , Dec. 31, 1845 ; his father, a native of New York, settled in Grant Co. in July, 1835. Having there buried his first wife, he was, on June 27, 1843, united in mar-
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riage to Mrs. Mary Ann Parkinson, whose first husband. Wm. Carroll Parkinson, had died a few years pre- vious ; she was the daughter of Robert McKee, of Edwardsville, Ill., and was born in Kentucky ; with her first husband she had removed to Wisconsin in the spring of 1839, and settled in the town of Fayette, on the farm where she has since continued to reside ; she is now living with her third husband, Wm. P. Trousdale, Samuel M. B. having died June 16, 1850. The first visit of R. M. Bashford to Dane Co. was in 1860, to attend the commencement exercises of the State University; three years later, he entered the preparatory department of the University, and graduated in the classical course in June, 1870, having, during that time, taught a number of terms; at the fall term of the same year, he entered the law department of the University, and graduated in June, 1871, and was then admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and other courts of the State ; during the time he was in the law school, he was also a student in the office of Smith & Lamb. In April, 1871, he became connected with the Madison Daily and Weekly Democrat as one of its editors and proprietors, and continued his connection with the paper until April, 1876, when he disposed of his interest therein to engage in the practice of his chosen profes- sion ; in June, 1876, he formed a law partnership with Col. Charles R. Gill, who had served for two terms as Attorney General of the State, and has since been engaged in the practice of the law. Mr. B. com- piled the " Legislative Manual of Wisconsin " for the years 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878, and was engaged in the publication of the revision of the Statutes for 1878. On Nov. 27, 1873, Robert M. Bashford was married to Florence E. Taylor, the daughter of Hon. Wm. R. Taylor, of Cottage Grove, Dane.Co., Wis. ; she is a native of the county, and was born at Cottage Grove June 16, 1854; she graduated at the State University in June, 1874, having been a member of the Senior Class at the time of her marriage. One child is the result of this union-Florence Madeline, born Sept. 4, 1875. Robert M. was the oldest of four brothers who graduated from the classical course in the State University-John Wesley Bashford, of the Class of '71; James Whitford Bashford, of the Class of '73, and Samuel Whitney Trousdale, of the Class of '77-three of whom, after graduation, were for a time connected with the instructional force of the University ; John W. graduated also from the law department of the University in 1874, and at once engaged in the practice of the law at Hudson, St. Croix Co., Wis., where he still resides, having, in 1875, been united in marriage to Miss Alice Welch, of Arlington, Columbia Co., Wis., a former student of the University. James W. pursued a course of study in the Boston University, in theology, philosophy and oratory, and, having graduated in all these departments, joined the New England Conference of the M. E. Church, and was appointed to a pastorate in the city of Boston. He married, in 1878, Jennie Field, a daughter of Hon. W. W. Field, a native of Grant Co., Wis., and a graduate of the State University, Class of 1874. Samuel W. Trousdale also pursued a theological course at the Boston University, and entered the Methodist ministry. Robert M. Bashford has served several years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the State Historical Society; he has always taken an active part in the meetings of the Alumni Association of the State University, and at the June meeting, 1880, was elected President of the Association.
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