History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 159

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

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 159

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EDWIN SUMNER was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1841; lived there until about 4 years of age, when his parents moved to Tiffin, Ohio, where he remained until 1856, when his mother, Jane Sumaer, came with two daughters and one son to Wisconsin ; has resided in Madison since 1856; was with Dunning & Payne three months, Wright & Payne two and one-half years; then the firm of Duaning, Jones & Sumner was organized, which continued from Feb. 10, 1859, to Feb. 10, 1862 ; since thea the firm has been Dunning & Sumner. He married in Madison, Sept. 6, 1864, Mary Annette Dun- ning; have one son living, Louis Dunning, born Nov. 7, 1870 ; lost one daughter, who died at the age of 16 months. Mr. Sumner is a member of the A., F. &. A. M., and of the Congregational Church

MRS. ELIZA J. SWAIN, nee Tarrey ; born in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1813 ; was reared in Hartland, Niagara Co., N. Y .; married, in 1833, to William J. Swain, who died in 1866. He was a black- smith by trade; they came with teams from York State, bringing five children, and arrived in Madison on the 22d of November, 1843; he worked several years in Madison, at plow-making and horseshoeing, his shop being where Turner's Hall now is. Many years of his later life were spent on his farm in Sun Prairie, where he died; they had eleven children all of whom are now living ; ten children are married, and reside in six different States ; names of children are Julia A., James R., Romaazo V., Laverna O., Viola R., Arvilla F., Cynthia L., John T., Eliza L., Flora L. and Nellie M. After death of Mr. S. the family returned to Madison to enjoy its educational advantages. The family are Methodists.

MAGNUS SWENSON, Assistant in Chemistry at the Wisconsin State University; was born in Norway April 12, 1854 ; at the age of 14, he came to the United States and settled in Janesville, Wis .; was educated in schools of Norway, and was one year at Janesville public school ; afterward spent six years in blseksmith-shop of Chicago and North-Western Railroad, at Janesville; when he had saved sufficient funds he entered preparatory department of Wisconsin University and spent five years on scientific studies, especially of chemistry, and graduated, Class 1880 ; he was awarded second honors in general scholarship and & " special honor " in chemistry ; the topic of his graduating thesis was the " Well Water of Madison." The subject was chosen alone for the reason of being one of great importance aud interest to the people of Madison. The water was taken from fifty different wells from various parts of the the city, and was thoroughly analyzed for organic impurities, and the results were of such interest that the Common Council employed him to make a more extended analysis of the waters of the city; he has made complete quanti- tative analyses of about one hundred and twenty specimens of water from various sections of the city, and a partial analysis of nearly three hundred samples brought him by interested citizens; immediately after graduating, the Regents clected him assistant in chemistry, and, associated with Prof. Daniells, his skillful Isbors have caused much attention to be given sanitary influences in general, and have aroused the citizens to the vast importance of pure water ; all concede his scientific ability and the accuracy of his analysis.

WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, was born in Connecticut July 10, 1820. His mother, a native of Scotland, died three weeks after his birth. When about 6 years of age his father, a sea captain, was lost at sea with his vessel. Thence forward, his boyhood was passed in Jefferson Co., N. Y., under severe guardianship in place of parental care and affection, and, too, amid the additional hardships and depriva- tions of pioneer life. He received very slight instruction at a country school, three miles distant, until nearly 16 years of age, when his enterprising spirit prompted him to seek a better fortune by first securing an education. In this struggle, without money or friends, he acquired a good academic education, sup- portiag himself by intervals of manual labor, chiefly during harvest seasons or in chopping cord-wood. He received a certificate of admission to the third term of the sophomore year in Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., but was unable to enter upon the course owing to his straightened circumstances. On the very day that the class of which he was a member left for Schenectady to complete their collegiate course, he went into the sugar bush, and with his own hands and a team to haul wood and sap, made. 1,100 pounds of sugar and two barrels of molasses, with which to pay tuition and board bills already contracted. We

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next find him conducting a select school, then an academy. In 1840, he moved to Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he joined a class of forty-five young men preparing for teaching. About this time the school authorities of La Porte, in that State, were offering an extra price for any teacher who would assume con- trol of and manage their public school-a school which had become a terror because of the reputation of the pupils for disorder and violence. During the previons ycar, thrce excellent teachers had failed in the undertaking, so that the school was entirely broken up. This was an opportunity young Taylor coveted. During the third winter under his management, it became the premium school of the county. We next find him running a grist-mill. saw-mill and cupola furnace. Failing in health from over-work, he devoted his spare time to reading medicine, and, in the winter of 1845-46, attended a five months' course of lect- ures and clinical instruction at the Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio. During his residence in Ohio he was elected Captain (receiving every vote of the company), afterward a Colonel in the Ohio. militia. In the fall of 1848, Taylor came to Wisconsin with a four-horse team and a load of goods for trade in the pineries. He settled on the farm in Cottage Grove on which he now resides. His life for many years was one of great activity and unceasing toil. He was married in 1842, te Catharine Hurd, alse a native of Connecticut, a highly intelligent lady, by whom he had three children-daughters-one, dying young; one graduated from the State University with high honors, then married R. M. Bashford, a leading lawyer in Madison; the other married I. W. Kanouse, a mechanic and farmer now in Rock Co. The result of the severe experience we have narrated is manifest in the whole character of the man. In every respect the architect of his own fortunes, he is necessarily self-reliant, independent, energetic, practical, honest in purpose and kind in heart, methodical and thoroughly systematic in business. During his boyhood and early manhood a pupil, teacher, miller, foundryman, raftsman, lumberman, by turns, and for many years a practical farmer, his sympathy for self-dependent laboring men and his interest in the prosperity of the industrial classes are intuitive and sincere.

Full six feet in height, with every muscle of his frame educated to its natural power, he is in person the embodiment of physical energy and strength, and a noble representative of the royal class of pioneer workingmen to which he belongs.

In manner, as in mental disposition, he is plain, dignified and sincere. Hypocrisy, affectation and deceit, in all their phases, whether social, financial or political, are to him extremely obnoxious. Honest and unaffected himself, he cannot tolerate ethers devoid of these qualities. He is liberal to the poor and unfortunate. No one in distress ever appealed to him in vain. Like Franklin, he has aided many young men in the commencement of their business career, and has been gratified with their success. He is an acute observer of things and passing events, sound judgment, comes slowly te conclusions, is firm in his convictions, energetic and thorough in execution. He is reticent, thoughtful and conscientious, hence rarely is disappointed in results. Honest himself, he naturally exacts honesty in others. Kind to the weak and the good, bold and daring in opposition to the vicious and the strong, retiring and diffident in deportment, he yet seems to have a reserved force equal to all emergencies. It is no mystery that this man was selected by the masses of the people in their struggle for political and financial reform in the affairs of government during the great crisis of 1873, '74 and "75.

Mr. Taylor has passed a varied and eventful public career since his residence in Wisconsin. He has been called to fill various town, county and State offices; has repeatedly received nearly, and sometimes, every vote cast for Chairman of the board of his town; has been Superintendent of Schools ; has been twice Chairman of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, consisting of forty-one members; has been County Superintendent of the Poor for seventeen years, until he resigned ; he was Trustee, and many years Vice President and member of the Executive Committee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Madison, from its reorganization in 1860 until 1874, when he resigned. In these various positions, in connection with his associates, he has handled hundreds of thousands of dollars of public funds belonging to towns, county and State with clean bands. He has also been a member of beth branches of the State Legislature, where he was respected and consulted, has served seven years as President of the Dane County Agricultural Society, has been Chief Marshal of the State Agricultural Society seven or eight years and President of the society for two years, then resigned. During the war of the rebellion he was the first person in Dane County to offer and then to give a bounty for volunteers, which led to other bounties, thus securing many enlistments.

Parties, when quite evenly balanced, or in a small minority, usually put forward their strongest men. It was Mr. Taylor's fortune to be in the minority when he ran for Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, for member of Assembly, for the State Senate and for Governor. This shows the estimate the public put upon the man in an emergency.

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In 1873, without solicitation on his part, William R. Taylor was placed by acclamation at the head of the reform ticket and elected Governor of the State, receiving 81,635 votes against 66,224 for his oppo- nent, Gov. C. C. Washburn, and was inaugurated on the 5th of January, 1874.

The election of Mr. Taylor to the office of Governor was a surprise to all except himself and to a few sagacious politicians of the two parties ; he had thoroughly canvassed the Granger vote, and was reason- ably assured how it would go.

The administration of Gov. Taylor justly occupies a conspicuous place in Wisconsin history. A farmer by constant occupation and choice, he had little knowledge or comprehension of the intrigues of latter-day politicians, and resorted to no facility of indirection by way of conciliating their favor or of resist- ing demands necessarily consequent upon a change in the political character of the State Administration ; but the good of the State and the prosperity of its people were the primary considerations in all appoint- ments, and in all executive actions. Errors of judgment may have sometimes occurred in the selection of men for the discharge of public duties, but the motive which governed the conclusions of the executive depart- ment can never be justly criticised or questioned.

The result of this policy on the part of Gov. Taylor was a practical reform in the fullest sense of the civil service. Many of the best men of both political parties were commissioned by him. This is especially true in respect to the educational, charitable, reformatory and penal institutions under the care of the State, by placing fitter men on the administrative boards of management, the good government of all which was largely promoted by reason of the high personal character of the several boards appointed wholly or mostly during Gov. Taylor's term of office.

In the general work of reform, Gov. Taylor's administration was successful. In the policy which he adopted, the number of officials and employes in the State departments was reduced, the expenses of the State Government were curtailed in all directions, and the total disbursements for State expenses during his term were less by hundreds of thousands of dollars than had been paid under any of his predecessors for many years, while public affairs were conducted with superior efficiency. Much of the partisan criti- cism of his administration undoubtedly originated in his firmness, impartiality, elevation of purpose and indifference to the interests of mere partisan politicians, as illustrated in these and similar appointments, and in the enforcement of an unusually rigid economy in all departments of the State Government within the influence of his authority or personal example.

In some matters not generally known, he throttled a " printing steal " of over a hundred thousand dol- lars in the Supreme Court, making some bitter enemies among the press. During his administration, the greatest appropriation from Congress made before or since ($800,000) was secured for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers in the interest of commerce and navigation. A large amount of money from the percentage of the sales of public lands within the State from Congress was also obtained.

The vigorous prosecutions of timber trespasses under his system of dividing the State lands into dis- tricts, then holding the agent responsible for his district, by means of which more than double the money ever before paid during any previous or subsequent administration, was recovered and secured to the State, and at less per cent on the dollar.

During the same time, the conflict between Wisconsin and Minnesota reached a crisis as to the inlet to Superior harbor, and under his direction the suits involving certain rights in dispute were successfully prosecuted in the Federal Supreme Court, but the advantages gained for the State were subsequently lost by compromise or neglect after the close of his term, are conspicuous examples of vigor and efficiency in the administration of public affairs during Gov. Taylor's term rarely equaled and never excelled in the his- tory of the State.

Many of these results are due to the fact that Gov. Taylor performed the duties of his office with the same zeal, industry and integrity which men give to their own private affairs of great importance. He devoted his undivided time and energies to the service of his constituency. He attended to minute details, and exercised personal supervision over the duties of his office. He was Governor in fact, not merely in name.

In still more important respects, the administration of Gov. Taylor deserves special prominence and commendation. His advent to the executive office was distinguished by the inauguration of a momentous issue between the people and the railroad corporations, involving the construction of vital provisions of the constitution, and directly affecting all the agricultural and commercial interests of the State. In the cop- flict thus thrust upon him, without any direct agency of his own, Gov. Taylor exhibited a fidelity to his public pledges, a vigor of action, and an administrative ability rarely equaled in these days by the occu- pant of any elective office, and which justly entitles him to the admiration and lasting gratitude of the people of Wisconsin. When the conflict was precipitated upon him, he grappled in with it aggressively,

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and managed it successfully. His oath was sacred, and he observed it regardless of consequences. The law was mandatory, and he executed it, regardless of its intrinsic merits. In defense of the rights of the people under the constitution he never doubted and never faltered, and the propriety of his action and the truth of his convictions were ultimately confirmed by every court, State and Federal, into which the con- tests were carried, including the Supreme Court of the nation. Unfortunately, at the close of Gov. Taylor's administration, the time had passed by when the sterling qualities exhibited by him in this con- flict with the corporations, and the enforcement of practical reforms in administrative affairs, could be relied upon as a certain source of public confidence or personal success, and the consequences in his case when a candidate for re-election were not peculiar. Gov. Taylor was a Granger. The organization was a reformatory one. The railway corporations determined to crush it out, supposing it in the way of their interests, and some of them proposed to beat Gov. Taylor's re-election at any cost and at all hazards.

The panic of 1873 and the consequent depression in business, compelled the railways, as well as many other departments of business, to reduce wages and to discharge some of their 9,000 or 10,000 employes, who were made to believe this was made a necessity by Granger laws and the Taylor administration which enforced them. Hence, a large portion of this force was arrayed in hostility against his re-election. Yet, at the same time, then, as he had always been from his youth up, he was the carnest and siocere working- man's friend.

While it is an acknowledged fact that his great strength and popularity were the means of the election of his associates on the Democratic ticket, the corporations whose obedience to law he had enforced, com- bined against him, and their immense power, exerted through their great facilities, was used in various ways to compass his defeat. With the change of administration, also, came hundreds of applicants for office, for whom there was no office to give. Some, thus disappointed, became vindictive enemies; men, too, who sought to influence the events of his administration and failed; lobby agents, who had been unsuccessful in their efforts to seduce him from the course of duty which he had conscientiously adopted, confederated with the railway corporations in opposition to his re-election, and the conspiracy, in connec- tion with the opposite party, was successful by a few hundred votes. This result, besides its effects on the State policy, was great injustice to Gov. Taylor, who deserved a verdict of approval from the people, and whose opportunities should have been extended, so that he might have matured measures and completed reforms which he had begun, and to apply the valuable experience which he had gained to the further management of public affairs.

Owing to the revolution of parties in the control of the State Government, and the consequent rise of many exceedingly vexatious, and some very momentous and complicated questions in the heated arena of politics and corporate interests, Gov. Taylor's position at the head of the State administration was one of extreme difficulty, exposing him for the time being to much hostile criticism. Through it all he main- tained a firm and unflinching course in behalf of economy, guided by his own convictions of public duty, using his best efforts to promote the public interests, and adhering firmly to the doctrine of State control over corporations of its own creation, in the execution of the laws regulating railroad tariffs, until its com- plete vindication in the courts, from the lowest in the State to the highest in the nation, was secured.

It remains to be said that, among the long roll of Wisconsin Governors, none has brought to the dis- charge of official duty a clearer integrity of purpose, a more sturdy honesty in every department of duty, and a more zealous efficiency in the public service, than William R. Taylor, the farmer Governor.

ELISHA E. THOMSON, passenger engineer, was born November, 1830, in Springfield Windsor Co., Vt. His father was a farmer, with a large family of boys, and Elisha, being the oldest, left home at the age of 18, " to enlist in the battle of life." Spent two years in Boston, and then, in 1850, began railroad life as fireman on the Old Colony Railroad ; after firing six months, he spent a year in the machine-shops of the company, under Samuel Cummings, master mechanic, who was afterward engaged in the same capacity by the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad, and he took with him the subject of this sketch, who was immediately given charge of an engine, which he run till 1855. He was married in 1854 to Miss Emiline R. Collor, daughter of Capt. Collor, a veteran of the war of 1812. They have one son, Charles E., who fires for his father. On the 1st of October, 1855, he entered the employ of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, now known as Prairie Du Chien Division of the C., M. & St. P. Railroad. He has run a passenger train nearly every day from that time to present date. One faith- ful engine-the S. J. Collins -has served him for the last sixteen years. For twenty-one years he has drawn the passenger train from Milwaukee to Madison. This city was the terminus of the railroad when he first run over it. For a quarter of a century has he driven the iron horse on this road, with only one furlough, of thirty days, during the period. He has never been censured at the general office. Family affiliate with the Congregational Church. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and was a charter member of the

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Brotherhood ot Locomotive Engineers of this division. He desires to serve thirty years, and retire as a vete- ran engineer.

C. J. THORSNES, Register of Deeds ; born in Norway, Oct. 18, 1840. Came to Dunkirk, Dane Co., Wis., with his parents, in August, 1849. Lived in the town of Dunkirk (on Sec. 16) for sev- eral years, theu moved to the town of Vienna, in this county, where he was engaged in farming until 1867. Afterward, for about eight years, he taught school in Columbia and Dane Counties, then returned to farm- ing, and remained until he was elected Register in 1878. He served three years as Town Treasurer in Vienna, and was Assessor one year in the same town. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. I, 23d W. V. I .; served until the spring of 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability, caused by sickness ; he was Corporal of his company while in the service. In 1865, he entered the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa; graduated from that institution in June, 1867. Married in Arlington, Columbia Co., Wis., June 12, 1876, Helena Richolson. She was born, September, 1852, in the town where they were married. They have two children-Hilda Jennette and Otto Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Thorsnes are members of the Lu- therao Church.

SAMUEL THURINGER, merchant; dry goods and clothing; native of Cologne, Prussia ; was born in August, 1833; was a clerk in the old country ; came to the United States in 1852, and set- tled in New York City. Learned the trade of gilder, which he followed till 1861, when he came to Mad- ison and, with a partner, immediately started a clothing store. For eleven years he has carried on a gen- eral dry-goods store as sole proprietor. Store is No. 156 Main street. Was married, in 1857, to Miss Adelaide Oberdorfer, formerly of Bavaria. Residence is on Hamilton street. They have three sons- Igueatz, Herman and Charles. The two oldest assist in the store. He is Past Chief Patriarch of Encamp- ment, No. 34, of Odd Fellows, at Middleton, Wis. He is a member of the Maennerchor and also of the Turnverein. His store is one of the leading establishments of the kind in Madison. He has been seven years in his present location. Is a popular and successful merchant.

0. TORGERSON, proprietor of flour and feed store, Madison, Wis., is the son of Lewis and Martha Torgerson, and was born in Bergen, Norway, March 10, 1827. Came to America, and direct to Madison, Wis., in 1844, reaching that place in July. Mr. Torgerson is a printer by trade, and worked in Madison, at that business, for fourteen years. For twelve years he was in the town of Perry, engaged in farming. He began his present business in Madison in 1876. Mr. Torgerson was married Dec. 12, 1850, to Miss Sarah Olson, who was born in Norway, June 10, 1830. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are living, viz., Thomas, Cyrena, Wilhelm, Cora, Louise, Eddie, Tilla and Martha. Mr. Torgerson aud family belong to the Lutheran Church.

GEN. WILLIAM WISE TREDWAY, retired ; was born July 1, 1804, in Ashford, Cono. ; he is a linial descendant of Nathaniel Tredway, who was one of the Selectmen in the town of Watertown, Mass., from 1653 to 1666 ; his father died in 1844, in Albany Co., N. Y. ; William Wise's schoolings ceased in his 12th year, when he began the independent race of life; was some years clerk in a general store, then hotel clerk, and afterward, before he was of age, was for three years Captain of a packet- boat on the Erie Canal. He was married in March, 1826, to Miss Mary Brown, who was born, reared and married in same house in Schenectady, N. Y. He engaged twelve years in general merchandizing in Sche- nectady, N. Y. On the 4th of March, 1839, he was appointed Deputy Comptroller of New York State, and remained in office three years. In 1842, he settled in Waukesha Co., Wis., where for six years was a farmer, afterward for ten years a merchant ; for eleven years he was Justice of the Peace in Waukesha Co .; he was quite successful io adjusting disputes without litigation. In 1858, he located in Madison, which has since been his home. He was Quartermaster General of Wisconsin, from May 11, 1861, to September, 1862, at which date the business was taken charge of by a regular United States official ; as Quartermaster General, he incurred State indebtedness of more than one and a fourth million dollars, and he himself audited the accounts for these expenditures, and not an arithmetical error of a cent has been discovered at the Treasury Department, where his accounts were reported and the money reimbursed; in fall of 1865, he was appointed State Agent for settlement of war claims at Washington ; he secured the settlement of mis- cellaneous claims amounting to more than $250,000; this amount was refunded to the State. His wife died May 10, 1870, leaving six children-three sons and three daughters, all now married. For sev- eral years he has been a large dealer in real estate. He was married Oct. 18, 1871, to Mrs. Huldah D. Foote, nee Merrett. Residence on Langdon street. Family are Presbyterians. He is a conscientious Republican. As a business man his honor is unsullied. Blest with competency and friends, he is happily passing to the sunset land.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 159

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