History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 151

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

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HON. SAMUEL D. HASTINGS, P. R. W. G. T., born July 24, 1816, in Leicester, Worcester Co., Mass .; his mother was of Scotch descent, named McIntosh ; his grandfather McIntosh was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under the command of Gen. Washington ; his mother possessed, in a marked degree, decision of character, independence of thought, and ardent devotion for her children ; these elements doubtless stamped her son with some of his noblest traits; his father was of English ancestry, with noble blood and history ; is a lineal descendant of Thomas Hastings, who, in 1634, settled in Water- town, Mass., and who long held important positions both in State and Church ; the old family motto was " In truth is victory." Mr. Hastings' early life was in Boston, Mass., and his school training was limited to the first thirteen years of his life ; from the age of 14 to 30, his home was in Philadelphia, Penn ; while engaged in the humble duties incident to the beginning of mercantile life, he pursued a course of study, which was practical, though not strictly scientific or classical ; in his public life, he has often experienced a need of assuring science, but has much more frequently reaped the benefit of the practical culture acquired by that self-drill and self-dependence in youth ; before 21 years of age, through the aid of a gen- tleman from his native village, he was established in business for himself; although always engaged in some active business by which to secure a support for himself and those depending upon him, he never allowed the acquirement of money to be the sole aim of his life, otherwise he might be numbered among the wealthy of the land ; but the reformatory and philanthropic movements of the times always engrossed much of his time and energies ; entertaining a lively interest in human affairs, he could not forego the responsibil- ity of a conscientious citizen of the Republic and allow himself to drift on the tide of events without an effort for public reform ; he kept himself thoroughly posted on the live questions of religious, social and

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political life; the anti-slavery movement was one of the political questions which engrossed his attention ; he was one of the founders of the " Liberty Party " in Pennsylvania, and, though quite a young man, was made Chairman of the State Central Committee ; he persisted in the advocacy of the principles of the Lib- erty party, even to the detriment of his business, and all through his public career, and in all his public speeches (many of which may be found in the archives of Wisconsin), he has been an earnest advocate of universal freedom and education. In 1846, he settled in Walworth Co., while Wisconsin was still a Terri- tory, and he has been identified as an active citizen with the history of the State. He was first elected Justice of the Peace without his consent or even knowledge; and equally without his solicitation or knowl- edge that his name was to be used, he was, in 1848, nominated for the Legislature, the nomination result- ing in his election by a large majority ; he went to the State Capital, Madison, in 1849, as a member of the first regular winter session of the Legislature after the State was admitted into the Union ; during that session, he delivered a speech before the Assembly on the subject of slavery, opposing its extension into the Territories, and denouncing all Congressional legislation which in any way favored the slave trade ; this speech was published and circulated widely by the newspapers of that day, and was afterward re-published and extensively circulated as one of the documents of the Anti-Slavery Society ; it is pleasant to record. that the resolutions for which he spoke, and of which he, as Chairman of the Select Committee, was author, with some slight amendment, passed both houses, committing the State irrevocably to the principles he so. ably advocated. The Milwaukee Free Democrat of that date says : " He performed a large amount of labor as one of the joint special committee on the enrolled bills reported by the revisers and compilers.

* *

* He was one of the best speakers of the House, and much respected by his associates. He belongs to the class of men who will do right though the heavens fall-never too numerous in a legislative. body. Representative and constituent were alike honored by his election."

In the year 1852 he removed from Walworth Co. to La Crosse, where in many ways he was recog- uized as co-operative in building up the town and promoting its institutions. He afterward removed to- Trempealcau, a new town on the Mississippi, to develop and build on property there. In 1856, Mr. Hast- ings was again brought into political life by a second election to the Legislature, and in the fall of 1857 he was elected Treasurer of the State. This office he filled most worthily for four consecutive terms, of two years each, a portion of the time being those trying years of the war when the resources of the State were drained off toward the maintenance of the Union. To him the State is under obligations for the mast astute management of her finances ; projecting plans of economy ; securing good legislation on meas- ures of finance ; and recommending a practical disposition of the State war bonds. His duties were ardu- ous and uuremitting, and he applied himself with unwearied zeal, declining all tenders of promotion to Con- gressional honors, that he mignt serve the interests of his State in the capacity designated by his constitu- ents.

During all his political career, with its multiplicity of cares, toils and tests, he was an ardent and earnest advocate of the temperance reform. From early boyhood up through the varied changes of life, he always found time and means to spend in this great cause, for he never drank liquor or used tobacco, but was energetic in measures designed to remove the curse from others, embracing every opportunity of visiting societies, making speeches, encouraging legislation, and attending temperance organizations. As early as 1849, a bill was presented in the Wisconsin Assembly, providing for the repeal of all license statutes on the State code, authorizing the sale of intoxicating liquors. This bill, and the various petitions appertaining thereto, were referred to a committee of five, Mr. Hastings, who was then a member of the Assembly, being one. It fell to his lot to write out their report, and it is an exhaustive and masterly document. The bill thus reported passed the Assembly by a vote of forty-one to five; it also passed the Senate, but was afterward reconsidered, and lost by a majority of two. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Hastings' best energies and influence have long been arrayed squarely against the liquor traffic. In the order of Sons of Temperance, which was once a considerable body in the United States, Mr. Hastings arose to the position of Grand Worthy Patriarch of Wisconsin, and was sent as a delegate to the National Division at Chicago, which was presided over by Judge O'Neil. of South Carolina, and Neal Dow as M. W. Associate. . In February, 1857, while a member of the State Assembly, he became a member of the "Capitol Lodge, I. O. G. T., and has ever since retained bis membership, and attends the meetings regularly every week when at home. He was elected representative to the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin from " Capitol " Lodge, in 1859, but his official duties, as State Treasurer, prevented his attending the session ; he was re-elected the next year and went; was elected Grand Worthy Chief Templar, and also representative to the R. W. G. L., whose session was held at St. Louis, and he has attended every subse- quent session of that body ; he was again elected G. W. C. T. in 1861, and also representative to the R. W. G. L .; at that session, which was held at Detroit, he was elected Right Worthy Grand Templar, but

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was declared ineligible, because, at the time, he also held the office of G. W. C. T. In 1862 he declined the nomination to the chief chair in his own State, and was again elected to the chief chair of the order, which he held four consecutive years by re-election, making five in all. During that period the order was carried through the cataclysm of civil war, which tested the vitality of all philanthropic organizations. In July, 1873, while a representative of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars, held in London, England, he was elected Right Worthy Grand Templar-the chief office of the Good Templars' Order throughout the world ; this was the sixth time he had been chosen as head of this order, whose lodges are found on both continents and on the islands of the sea. He has for fifteen years been Vice President of the " National Temperance Society and Publication House." He is one of the corporate members of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. When a mere youth we find him the presiding officer of a Young People's Missionary Society in the Presbyterian Church. At sixteen years of age he united with the church, and took charge of a class in the Sunday school. Soon afterward he became Superintendent of a colored Sunday school, numbering from 200 to 300 children, holding two sessions per day, and engaging a fine corps of teachers.

In the maintenance of his anti-slavery principles he was compelled to sever his original church rela- tions, and joined with others in establishing a Free Congregational Church, on an anti-slavery basis, in the city of Philadelphia. He was made Deacon in the church, which relation, with that of Trustee, he has sus- tained the most of the time since, in the different places in which he has resided; he has also been almost constantly identified with the Sunday school work, and was many years Superintendent of one of the best schools in the State. He was two years presiding officer of the State Sunday School Convention. At one time he was elected Moderator of the State Convention of the Congregational Churches, a position to which but one layman had ever attained. It was the custom for the retiring Moderator to open the next session with a sermon. Mr. Hastings was requested to open the session with remarks ad libitum. He did so, taking the words " Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," from which he set forth clearly the fact that tobacco could not be used for the glory of God. The lecture produced a profound sensation, giving tone to the whole session, and converting several from the use of that noxious weed.

In the fall of 1874, he went to Australia in the interest of the order of Good Templars and the gen- eral cause of temperance. He lectured in nearly every city and large town in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. He received a hearty welcome. It is a privilege to examine the beautifully engrossed ad- dresses from the various lodges and cities, and the rare gifts from temperance friends and associations in those far-away lands. He returned in the spring of 1876, and continues to devote voice and pen to the cause of temperance ; is a correspondent of many journals, both in the Old and the New World. He is one of the corporate members of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and for the last two years has been its Treasurer. He is Trustee of Beloit College and Rockford Female Seminary, twin institutions of learning, and one of the officers of the State Historical Society. He was for many years a member, and for three years Secretary, of the Board of Trustees of Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane; also Secretary of the State Board of Charities and Reform.

In the interest of these institutions, he was commissioned to visit and report upon similar ones in Great Britain, which he did during his recent travels in that country. As a citizen of Madison, the beau- tiful Capital of his State, Mr. Hastings is ever at the public service in whatever good work commands his rare business talents. For many years be was Treasurer and Director of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, Director of the Madison Manufacturing Company, Director of the City. Gas Works, etc., in all of which he has maintained a reputation for faithfulness and executive ability. He was married, on the 1st day of August, 1837, to Miss Margaretta Shubert, of Philadelphia, Penn .; they have three children- Samuel D., Jr., who is a prominent lawyer in Green Bay, Wis .; Emma M., who is married to H. R. Hobart, now editor of the Railway Age, Chicago; Florence L., married to Henry W. Hoyt, one of the editors of the Madison Democrat. His home is an attractive brick residence on the corner of Lake and Engle streets.

His gift of business thoroughness and integrity in the world is no more a characteristic than are the graces of the home circle of which he is the head and soul. His " elect lady " has the rich grace of a high order of womanliness and artistic taste in working up the endless details into the harmony of a home. He has been, through life, a tireless and unselfish worker. His principles have enshrined themselves in his works. He is an effective speaker, a ready writer and a good organizer ; is genial, just and philanthropic.

WILLIAM HAUSER, grocer; was born in Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 11, 1835, he came to America in 1854; in the same year he went to New Glarus, Green Co., Wis., where he remained a little more than a year, then for two and a half years lived in Sauk City, afterward for two years lived in Chicago, then went to Iowa, and was on a farm for three years ; in 1862, he went to Millwaukee and had a situation as bar-tender; in August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 24th W. V. I. ; he was in the battles of

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Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Franklin and Nashville. Mr. H. was wounded at Resaca, and again at the last battle of Nashville was wounded in right side and left leg ; was mustered out in 1865. April 24, 1872, he was married in Sauk City, to Miss Sophia Billeter ; they have two children-Alvina, born Dec. 24, 1873, and Arnold, Dec. 4, 1876. Mr. H. belongs to the Prot- estant Church.

JOSEPH HAUSMANN, proprietor of Capitol Brewery, is the son of Jacob and Anna Haus- mann, and was born in Baden, Germany, May 26, 1828; came to America in March, 1852; Mr. H. went from Freeport, Ill., in 1854, to Portage, Wis., where he worked at the brewery business until 1859; in 1863, he removed to Madison, Wis., and bought the brewery he now owns from Wm. Voigt ; Mr. H. makes between 6,000 and 7,000 barrels of liquor every year. He was married, July 1, 1858, to Miss Sarah Blass, who was born in New York City, Feb. 14, 1839 ; they have had six children, of whom four are living, viz., Willie, born March 7, 1861 ; Albertina, March 7, 1859; Charles, Feb. 3, 1863, and Olto, April 29, 1865 ; they have lost two children-Oscar, who was born Nov. 20, 1867, and died Oct. 21, 1879, and Clara, who was born Nov. 15, 1869, and died March 8, 1871. Mr. H. saw fourteen montha of military service in his native land in the revolution of 1848-49, or the Baden and Prussian war, and once received a saber-wound on one cheek. Mr. H. belongs to the Odd Fellows. Mrs. H. is the daughter of Deabold and Magdalena Blass, the latter died Feb. 17, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hausmann belang to the German Catholic Church.

THOMAS HAYDEN, proprietor of livery stable built in 1877, located on Washington avenue, owns stable, also residence, on Broom street ; is a native of Ireland, was born in 1831 ; came to the United States in 1849, and was fireman on the H. R. R. R., and afterward engineer on the N. Y. & E. R. R. Was married in Newburg, N. Y., to Miss Bridget Allwell, in 1855, she was formerly from Ireland ; they have had six children, lost four, the living are Annie and Alice. Has been Alderman three years in the Third Ward. He and his family are connected with St. Raphael's Church. Has considerable real estate in the city ; keeps seventeen horses and all needed vehicles, also keeps a hearse ; his stock is all available for livery purposes, as he runs no omnibus line. Was six years in New York State, and immedi- ately after marriage came West and settled in Madison ; has been railroad contractor, dealer in real estate and also engaged in the wood business ; began the livery business in 1873; is a thrifty business man.

JOHN E. HAYES, blacksmith at roundhouse of the C., M. & St. P. R. R .; was born in Ireland in June, 1842; came to the United States in 1862 ; served a portion of his apprenticeship in the old country, and worked eighteen months at his trade in New York City, and in 1864 came to Madison, and worked a year at his trade; on the 1st of May, 1865, he began work for his present employers, and has continued with them up to the present time. Mr. Hayes was married to Miss Ellen C. Sullivan in 1869, she died May 22, 1879, leaving two sons-John M., and Thomas F. Owns his residence, No. 62 Main street; his sister is his housekeeper. He was elected Senior Alderman in 1877; has been Presi- dent of the benevolent society of St. Raphael's Church, and has held other offices in said church ; has also held the office of Vice President and Corresponding Secretary of the Machinist and Blacksmith's Union, No. 1, in Milwaukee ; is a skilled mechanic and a reliable citizen.

GEORGE HEILMANN, proprietor of the Madison Bakery, Madison, Wis .; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 10, 1847 ; în 1855, he came from Germany, with his parents, and went direct to Addison, Washington Co., Wis., where he remained, living on a farm, until about 13 years of age, when he went to Kenosha, Wis., and learned the baker's trade with his uncle, John B. Kupfer, of that place. He was in Kenosha for five years, and then, in 1873, removed to Madison, Wis., where he has ever since had control of the Madison Bakery. July 3, 1873, he was married to Miss Julia E. Bayer, who was born April 17, 1855; they have one child-Emma E., born May 20, 1877. The family belongs to the Ger- man Catholic Church.

PHILIP HEINKEL, proprietor of cigar factory and wholesale and retail dealer in cigars, etc., is the son of John and Rica Heinkel, and was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 9, 1848; came to America and direct to Madison, Wis., in the fall of 1867 ; for ten or twelve years. he worked in the tin business, but. in February of 1880, be began his present business, in which he now employs ten hands. Mr. H. was for some time a student at a military academy in his native country ; was afterward drafted into the army, and served five months. Mr. H. is a Mason, a member of Turner's Society and also of Toledgranz and of the Singers ; he has held several offices in each of these bodies; he is Captain of the Governor's Guards.

WILLIAM HELM, Assistant Postmaster; born in Weltzin, Prussia, Jan. 8, 1839; came to America in 1854; settled in Whitewater, Wis., in October of that year ; was there about two years, then

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moved to Sauk City, Wis., where he resided one year, and, in 1857, he came to Madison ; was employed as clerk in the mercantile house of Fuller & Etheridge three years, and one year with their successor, Capt. Briard. April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Co. E, 1st W. V. I .; after the expiration of his term of enlist- ment (three months), he entered the Madison Post Office as clerk ; he has held the position of Assistant Postmaster since May 1, 1865; he is a Knight Templar, Treasurer of the Governor's Guards, etc. Feb. 26, 1862, he was married to Mary E. Bauer; a native of Cologne; they have five children-Emma F., Louise Bertha, Ida and Elisha W.

WILLIAM A. HENRY, B. Agr., Professor of Agriculture in the University of. Wis- consin ; was born June 16, 1850, in Norwalk, Ohio; Prepared at Ohio Wesleyan University for classical course in college; he afterward taught in the public schools of Indiana two years, and in Colorado three years ; entered Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., in September, 1876, and graduated in 1880, in the Agricultural course, with the degree of Bachelor of Agriculture ; during the summer of 1879, he was connected with Prof. Riley in United States Entomological Commission at Washington ; in the spring of 1880, he was Instructor in Botany at Cornell University ; on the same week of his graduation, he was elected to the Chair of Agriculture in the University of Wisconsin, and entered upon his duties on the 9th of September, 1880. Prof. Henry, for several years, and during his entire university course, has been making special preparation for teaching and lecturing on agriculture and kindred themes ; he has been relieved by the regents, of all university duties, during three months of the winter, in order that he may lecture throughout the State on agricultural topics. His condition in life has necessitated labor, and he is a tireless worker. He has a deep sense of the importance of his specialty, and hence, is an enthusiastic teacher.

CHARLES HERMANN, proprietor of bakery and saloon, is the son of Joseph and Therisia Hermann, and was born in Vienna, Austria, Oct. 12, 1825; came from Austria to Madison, Wis., in 1854 : from 1859 to 1862, Mr. H. was proprietor of the Christina Hotel, at Cross Plains, Wis .; then, returning to Madison he began the bakery and saloon business, in which he has ever since continued. Mr. H. has been married three times ; married his first wife in 1855; she died in 1862. In 1863, he was married to Miss Anna Sophia French ; this lady died in 1870; in June, 1880, Mr. H. was married to his present wife, Miss Sarah Hill ; by his first wife Mr. H. had three children-Theresia, Wallenrga and Angusta ; by his second wife, two children-Emil and Anna.

JOHN HESS, proprietor of the Empire Brewery, Madison, Wis. ; is the son of Frederick and Gertie Hess, and was born in Prussia March 14, 1834. He came to America in 1846, and August 4 of that year reached Bryton, Kenosha Co., Wis. From that time, until 1857, he lived in that place on a farm ; then went to Burlington, Racine Co., Wis., and for three years worked at the wagon trade. After this. he went to Kenosha, Wis., and from 1859 to 1865, kept a boarding-house at that place; then went to Madison, Wis., where he built an ice-house, and engaged in the ice business; was for two years in part- nership with Mr. Schweinem. In 1867, Mr. H. began the brewery business with Mr. Lenze, with whom he was associated until 1874, when he bought out the brewery, which he now owns. He employs eight men in the business, and makes about 2,500 barrels of liquor per year. Dec. 6, 1859, Mr. H. mar- ried Miss Rosa Schulkamp, who was born in June of 1835 ; they have had five children, of whom but one is now living, viz., Philomina, born July 16, 1866. Mr. H' has been Supervisor for two years, and is Alderman of the First Ward.

JOSEPH HOBBINS, M. D., member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London ; Fellow of the Geological Society, England ; corresponding member of the Royal Horticultural Society, England, etc. ; horn Dec. 28, 1816, in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England. He was educated chiefly at Colton Hall, Rugeley, by Daniel Sheridan, Esq. Upon leaving school, he commenced the study of medicine, with a physician of the same county, a gentleman of the highest standing in that part of England, with whom he remained five years, leaving only to enter Queen's College, Birmingham. From Queen's College, he entered Guy's, London-this institution then ranking for advantages in study the highest in the country. Here he remained for two years, passing his classical examination as a licentiate in medicine, and obtaining his diploma from the college. Having, while a student, visited the hospitals of Dublin and Edinburgh, he then took advantage of a journey through Belgium and France, to visit those of Brussels and Paris, and made his first visit to the United States. He was married in Liverpool, England, October 11, 1841, to Miss Sarah Russell Jackson, of Newton, Mass., by whom he had six children, three of them are still living. This marriage led to the Doctor's return to this country, settling in Brookline, Mass., where he remained three years, and then, on account of ill health, crossed the Atlantic again, where after a short time spent in traveling in Wales, Scotland and England, he resumed practice in his native town. After an absence

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of eight years, he once more set out for the United States, and, having made Madison his choice for a future home, arrived here in the spring of 1854. Here he soon began to manifest an interest in the things about him, and, at the suggestion of Chancellor Lathrop, of the State University, undertook to organize its medical department. As the result of his labors, this department was organized in 1855, and the Doctor was elected one of its professors in 1856. He was a member of the first City Council, and represented his ward for four years, and until he resigned. He has been Secretary of the City Horticultural Society, afterward President for twelve years, and holding, at the same time, for five years, the office of President of the State Horticultural Society, justly earning the title given him, "the Father of Horticulture in the North- west." Upon the breaking-out of the war, he at once took a decided stand for the Union. Soon after Camp Randall was established, the Doctor, acting for the State, took charge of the sick left behind by the different regiments going to the field, and, upon the rebel prisoners being sent to Madison, was appointed surgeon in charge. In politics, has always been independent, but during the war acted with the war Democrats. In 1870, he lost his wife. His second marriage occurred at Baltimore, Md., April 16, 1872, to Mary, the youngest daughter of the late Louis McLane, of Delaware, by whom he has one son.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 151

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304