USA > Wisconsin > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Wisconsin, past and present : including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county [microform] > Part 43
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In 1906 I was elected governor of the State of California I have had four children, two boys and two girls. My oldest boy died about eight years ago. The youngest boy, James, is now nearly eleven. J. N. Gillett.
C. W. Bunn, the son of Judge Romanzo Bunn, who moved to Tomah with his father in 1861, at which time he was six years of age. He attended the public schools of Sparta and from there, in 1870, went to the University of Wisconsin, graduating there, B. S., in 1874, and from the law school in 1875. He then moved to La Crosse, where he lived until 1885 and was a member of the firm of Cameron, Losey & Bunn, which firm afterwards became Losey & Bunn, upon the retirement of Mr. Cameron. In 1885 he removed to St. Paul, forming a partnership with J. W. Lusk. who formerly had lived at Reidsburg, Wis., under the firm name of Lusk & Bunn. which was succeeded by the firm Lusk, Bunn & Hadley and afterwards by Bunn & Hadley. In 1896 he became the general counsel of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, which position he still holds.
Frank Fredrick Oster was born at Sparta, Wis .. June 3, 1860, his parents being Michael Peter Oster and Magdalene Oster (nee Titus). Attended the public schools of Sparta and graduated from the Sparta high school in June. 1876. Entered the Uni- versity of Wisconsin the same fall and graduated therefrom in June. 1882, with the degree of bachelor of letters. Read law with Morrow & Masters and was admitted to the bar in 1885. While reading law, was elected justice of the peace and police judge (two offices) for the term of two years, served one year, resigned and, in the fall of 1886 removed to California, where he has since resided. On the organization of the city of Colton, in 1887. he was appointed its first city attorney and held that office until 1892, when he resigned. In 1890 he formed law part-
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nership with W. J. Curtis, at San Bernardino, under the name of Curtis & Oster, but continued to reside at Colton until Janu- ary 1, 1893, when, on taking office as district attorney of San Bernardino county. he removed to the city of San Bernardino- the county seat. Served two years as district attorney, declined renomination which was offered him. In 1895 he was nominated and elected judge of the Superior Court of San Bernardino county for the term of six years; was reelected in 1901 and again in 1907, the last time without opposition either in conven- tion or at the polls. Still holds that office. In politics he has always been a Republican. He was married at Colton, Cal., October 15, 1891, to Miss Elsie M. Donald and has one child- a son named Donald Titus Oster, now 17 years old.
He is a Mason. Knight Templar and Shriner, belongs also to the Elks and Knights of Pythias. He is active in all public affairs. Secured $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie for a library at San Bernardino, was first president of the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce, and was chairman of the committee appointed to prepare and was the principal author of the present Juvenile Court Law of California, generally believed to be the most advanced measure of its kind in existence. He was also chairman of the campaign committee which recently sought to raise $75,000 for a Y. M. C. A. at San Bernardino and succeeded in raising donations aggregating nearly twice that amount.
Randolph A. Richards was born at Milwaukee. Wis., January 5, 1863: in 1867 his parents moved to Tomah, his father, Dr. J. F. Richards, there entering upon the practice of medicine.
He attended the public schools at Tomah, graduating from the high school with the class of 1882: was the valedictorian of his class. Soon after graduating he entered the law office of IIon. George Graham as student and clerk ; he passed the examination of the State Board at Milwaukee and was admitted to the bar December 28, 1887; his practice has been principally confined to this county. While living at Tomah he served as city attorney several terms and as district attorney one term and was a mem- ber of the Board of Education of Tomah for four years and served on the county board for three years.
He was one of the organizers of Company K. Third Regiment W. N. G., being mustered in as a corporal with the Company May 28. 1884; was elected second lieutenant in 1886 and captain in 1887; he commanded Company K from September 5, 1887. until his promotion to the rank of major in 1897; during this term he was instrumental in causing the erection of the armory.
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Upon receiving his commission as major he was assigned to the command of the Third Battalion, consisting of companies A, Neillsville: D. Mauston ; F. Portage, and G, Wansan; upon the breaking out of the Spanish-American war was mustered into the United States service with his regiment, the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in command of the same battalion. Served throughout the campaign in Porto Rico, coming home with his regiment and was mustered out of the United States service Jannary 14, 1899.
In January he moved to Sparta and formed a partnership with D. F. Jones, which continued until the death of Mr. Jones. Later he associated with him JJ. J. Bowler and upon the dissolu- tion of this firm the firm of Richards & Rice was formed with Z. S. Rice, which continued about two years: since which Mr. Richards has practiced alone.
Upon the reorganization of the Third Regiment after the Spanish-American war he was commissioned major and assigned to command of the First Battalion, companies B. La Crosse ; K, Tomab ; L, Sparta, and M. La Crosse ; on May 6, 1910. he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, which rank he still holds.
Clark M. Rosecrantz was born in Mauston, Junean county, June 23, 1869, and removed from there to MeHenry county, Illinois. in 1873. Hle went to Sparta in 1885 and attended public school one year. He then went to Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis., to fit for the university; entered the University of Wis- consin in September, 1889, and graduated with the degree of B. L. in 1893. and graduated from the law school at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin in 1894. Shortly afterwards he entered the office of Sullivan & Cromwell, counselors at law, offices at Forty- fifth and Wall streets. New York City, and remained there until September, 1896. when he came to Milwaukee and joined Charles P. Spooner and Charles II. George in the practice of law under the firm name of Spooner. Rosecrantz & George; this firm continued until about 1900 when Mr. George retired from the firm. Shortly after Mr. George's retirement. Mr. Willett M. Spooner joined the firm and continued for about a year under the firm name of Spooner. Rosecrantz & Spooner: after Mr. Willett M. Spooner's retirement From the firm Charles P. Spooner continued under the firm name of Spooner & Rosecrantz until 1896 when Spooner left Milwaukee to engage in the practice of law at Seattle, Wash. Mr. Rosecrantz continued the practice alone until May, 1910, when the firm of Van Dyke. Rosecrantz, Shaw & Van Dyke was formed. which still continues.
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Mr. Rosecrantz has for a great many years been the general attorney of the Milwaukee Light & Traction Company, which control the street car lines in that city and several interurban lines.
M. E. Powell was born at Farmsville, Cattaraugus county, New York, April 11. 1840, and came to Sparta in 1853; resided on a farm until 1858 when he commenced the study of law in the office of L. W. Graves, which continued until the time of his enlistment in the First Wisconsin Battery of Light Artillery at La Crosse in 1861. Ile served throughout his term of three years and was mustered out in 1864, then returned to Sparta and com- pleted his legal studies in the office of Hon. Romanzo Bunn and was admitted to practice by Judge Edwin Flint, September 25. 1865; he removed to Redwood Falls, Minn., in 1867 and there practiced law for about forty years: he has retired from active practice and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor at Redwood Falls.
John Anderson was born at Fox Lake, Wis., January 22, 1855, his family soon removing to Tomah. Ile attended the schools at Tomah and Sparta and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He taught the Mauston High School for two years as principal, came to Sparta and studied law in the office of Morrow & Masters; was admitted to the bar and began practice at Chippewa Falls, soon afterwards being elected county judge, which office he held for twelve years ; was at one time city attor- ney and mayor of Chippewa Falls. He died March 25, 1911.
Almon A. Helms was born in the town of Norfolk, St. Law- rence county, state of New York, October 18, 1846. Received a common school education in the schools of the counties of St. Lawrence and Franklin, in that state.
After he became about 14 years of age he worked at farming summers and taught school two winters in the district schools of the state of New York. Came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1866, locating at Durand, in Pepin county, and resided there until the spring of 1874. While at Durand he worked one summer in the Knopp, Stout & Co. saw mill, clerked in a drug store one sum- mer, clerked on a steamboat on the Chippewa river four summers. taught in the county schools four winters and two summers, read law with Hon. H. E. Houghton one winter.
He moved to Tomah with his family in March, 1874, entering the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway as a clerk in the Tomah depot, remaining there about a year and a half; afterwards entering the employ of the Wisconsin Valley
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Company until January 1, 1876, at which time he entered the office of llon. George Graham as clerk and student. He was admitted to the bar by Hon. Romanzo Bunn, circuit judge. in September, 1876, entering into partnership with JJudge Graham, which continued until August, 1881. He removed to Osseo, Wis., in September, 1881, and from there to Merrill, Wis., in May. 1882, entering into partnership with S. M. Hoyt, which continued until 1885. Ile was elected county judge of Lincoln county, serving one term. and was elected municipal judge in 1891, and has been the incumbent of the office as municipal and superior court judge ever since. Served as mayor of the city of Merrill for one year May 1, 1887, to May 1, 1888; is now a member of the Board of Education of the Merrill schools and has been for some time.
Charles W. Meadows was born at Trenton. N. J., February 24. 1847; in the fall of 1855 his parents moved to Monroe county, locating in the town of Leon and meeting with their full share of the hardships and inconveniences which fell to the lot of the pioneers of early days. At the breaking out of the Civil War his two older brothers, William II. and Thomas E., enlisted and went to the front, leaving him at home with his father, mother and little sister.
However, early in January, 1864, although not yet seventeen years of age. being five feet seven inches tall and weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds, passed him into the service and he enlisted and served with his two brothers until the close of the war; he enlisted in Company A of the Third Cavalry and joined his company at Fort Curtis, Mo .. where the troops of which he was attached were engaged in contesting with Price. Shelby and Quantrell as to who should occupy that part of the country. From the time he joined the company until he was mustered out. September. 1865, he saw a great deal of service. chiefly scouting and escort duty, but also quite a battle of sharp fighting during the campaign against Price in the fall of 1864. taking part in several battles where from fifteen to twenty thou- sand cavalry engaged on a side.
In the summer of 1878 he began the study of law in the office of W. J. Hahn, Lake City, Minn., and in the fall of the same year entered the office of Morrow & Masters at Sparta and was admitted to the bar there by Judge Newman at the October term of the circuit court in 1880; he remained with Morrow & Masters until the spring of 1881 when he married Miss Edna L. Irish, at Viroqua, when, in company with S. M. Hoyt, also a student
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of Morrow & Masters, opened a law office at Merrill, Wis .; when there, he states, they practiced "economy" for several months. when, owing to the death of his father, he returned to Sparta, remaining there until the following spring and then removed to Barron county, which he has since called his home, although he spent a year or two in Georgia and four years in Washington, D. C.
In 1901 he was elected county judge of Barron county and at the present time is serving his third term in that capacity.
Mr. Meadows was in Sparta during the days of J. N. Gillett and he states that his first lawsuit was tried in the winter of 1881 and that if he had known that he was fighting against the future governor of the state of California it is quite probable, he says, that he would not have gone into the case, as Governor Gil- lett was at that time a student in the office of Bleekman & Bloom- ingdale and the case referred to was also the time which Gillett had the honor to try as his maiden effort. As Mr. Meadows very tritely phrased it : "It was a horse trade case and I had not a bit of evidence and what was still worse my client had no money ; besides, Jim, like the red nose man in 'Pickwick,' had the ‘gift of the gab werry gallopin,' and he just 'woke the cathedral music of the universe' in trying the case, entirely submerging my penny whistle, and of course I lost, but J do not believe Jim has collected his judgment yet."
Charles W. Graves, of Viroqua, was born at East Aurora, Erie county, New York, on November 29, 1854: is the oldest son of Lewis W. Graves. His mother's maiden name was Mary J. Walds. In 1856 his parents removed to Sparta, where Mr. Graves spent his years until 1879, receiving a common high school educa- tion in the Sparta schools. In 1874 he began the study of law in his father's office and in January, 1876, was admitted to the bar at Sparta before Judge Romanzo Bunn. He began practice in Sparta and in 1876 was associated with Fred T. Condit and later (1877-78) with A. E. Bleekman. In 1876 Mr. Graves was town clerk of the town of Sparta. In May, 1879, he removed to Viroqua, forming a law copartnership with Col. C. M. Butt, of that city, which continued for fifteen years. During the years 1891-1892-1893 he served as secretary of the State Board of World's Fair Managers in connection with the Chicago World's Fair and during these three years gave nearly his entire time to the duties of the office. In May, 1894, he was appointed county judge of Vernon county and served until January 1. 1898. Since then he has practiced law in Viroqua and is still in active practice.
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In 1875 he married Miss Ida Reas, of Sparta, four children being born to them, viz., Earl W. Graves, R. B. Graves, of Sparta, Allan M. Graves and Mrs. S. M. Coffland. In 1897 Mrs. Graves died, and in the fall of 1899 he married Miss Nettie MeMichael, of Viroqua.
E. R. Bowler was born in the town of LaFayette, Monroe county, Wisconsin, on September 25, 1869. He attended the Bush Prairie school, which was known as one of the leading district schools of Monroe county. He afterward attended the Sparta high school ; after completing the course he was appointed to the position of railway mail clerk under the United States Civil Service Act, and served in that capacity for a period of about three years, his principal route during that time being between Chicago and Minneapolis. He left the railway mail service to enter the University of Wisconsin. and when taking the academic course he belonged to the Philomathea Debating Society, as well as other prominent debating societies at the University of Wisconsin, and was chosen as one of the joint debators to represent the University of Wisconsin in joint debate between that institution and the university of the state of Minne- sota. His associates in this debate were Mr. E. A. Evans, of Baraboo, and Mr. W. J. Kalaher, Milwaukee, and with them he won the first debate that had been won from the University of Minnesota in a number of years. He completed the law course at the University of Wisconsin in 1896, after which time he was employed in the office of D. F. Jones, who was then United States district attorney for the western district of Wisconsin. In February, 1898, he formed a partnership with his brother, T. M. Bowler, and under the partnership name of Bowler & Bowler they entered into the practice of law at the city of Sheboygan. Wis. His advancement as a lawyer was very rapid, and he has been recognized throughout the state as one of the leading lawyers. He has been engaged from time to time in some of the most important litigations in the eastern part of the state. During the last sessions of the legislature he has represented large interests before that body in framing legislation, he having represented the State Bankers' Association of the State of Wis- consin ; State Manufacturers' Association of the State of Wisconsin, as well as many other large interests.
He. together with his brother. T. M. Bowler, who comprise the firm of Bowler & Bowler at Sheboygan, are enjoying the confidence of the entire community, and have a very large prac- tice in their profession in that section of the state. He was united
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in marriage in July, 1900, to Gertrude Edmondson, of Albany, Mo., and to them have been born three children, Madeline, Harold and Gertrude.
T. M. Bowler was born in the town of LaFayette, Monroe county, Wisconsin, on August 26, 1871. He attended the district school during his early boyhood, and thereafter attended the high school in the city of Sparta, and taught school in several parts of Monroe county, after which he attented normal school, and shortly after being a graduate of the normal school in 1892, was elected county superintendent of schools of Monroe county on the Democratic ticket, he being one of the few Democrats elected to county office at that time. During his term as county superintendent he established the summer school for teachers in this county, which has been conducted yearly ever since, and has been a great help to the common schools of this county. He was defeated for reelection in 1894, on account of the large Republican majority in the county, and at the expiration of his term as county superintendent on January 1, 1895, entered the law school at the University of Wisconsin, and finished that course with his brother, E. R. Bowler, in June, 1896. He was excused from taking final examinations in the law school on account of his high class records, and in February, 1898, he entered the practice of law at the city of Sheboygan, Wis., in partnership formed with his brother, E. R. Bowler. He was elected city attorney of the city of Sheboygan in the spring of 1899, and held that office for a period of four years. During this time the firm of Bowler & Bowler had become employed by and represented large interests, such as the Chicago & North- Western Railway Company. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, the Sheboygan Railway & Electric Company, as well as other large interests, and for this reason he declined to accept further political office, and has since that time devoted his entire attention to those interests which his firm represent.
Ile is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Fraternal Order of Eagles, and has held the highest office in all those orders, and with his brother, E. R. Bowler, enjoys a very successful practice. He has succeeded from a business standpoint, at this time being president of the Citizens' Telephone Exchange, and is interested in a financial way in many other large interests in Sheboygan. He married a Monroe county girl, Miss Mary Ebert, Tomah, Wis., and one child was born, Dorothy, aged eleven years.
James J. Bowler was born in the town LaFayette, in Monroe
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county, on the 9th day of March, 1877. He obtained his common school education in the Bush Prairie schoois, and entered the Sparta high school in 1890, and graduated therefrom in 1894. Upon graduation from the Sparta high school he taught school in Monroe county for three years, being principal of the Tunnel ('ity and Cashton graded schools. Cashton school became a high school the year Mr. Bowler gave up the vocation of teaching to enter the law department of the state university at Madison, which he did in the year 1897. He received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1900. While at the university. "Jim" was prominent both in debating circles and in the management and direction of the athletic affairs at the university. being selected as a member of the joint debate of the Missouri inter- collegiate debate and also acting in the capacity of baseball manager and assistant football manager.
Mr. Bowler, upon being admitted to the practice of law, entered the law office of Jones & Richards, at Sparta, and shortly after the death of Mr. Jones became the junior member of the firm of Richards & Bowler, which partnership continned until January 1. 1907, when he entered into partnership with his brother George under the firm name of Bowler & Bowler, which partnership continued until January 1. 1908. George then went to Sheboygan with his older brothers Ed and Tim. and Jim engaged in the practice of law at Wausau, Wis., where he remained until the first of December. 1911, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis .. where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.
George J. Bowler was born in the town of LaFayette, Monroe county, Wisconsin, July 19, 1879. He attended the district school of that town and later entered the high school in the city of Sparta, graduating from that school in June, 1895. He then taught school in the county of Monroe, afterward conducting with his brother. John Bowler, the Bowler Brothers' Fruit Farm. which has been generally known as one of the pioneer fruit farms of this section of the state. He later entered the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, and graduated from the law department of that institution in June. 1903. after which he entered the employ of the firm of Richards & Bowler at Sparta. Wis., and continued in their employ until January 1, 1905, at which time he, with his brother. James J. Bowler, formed a partnership and practiced law at Sparta under the firm name of Bowler & Bowler until January 1. 1908, at which time he went to Sheboygan. Wis., and has been associated there with his brothers. E. R. Bowler
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and T. M. Bowler, until January 1, 1912. He is now practicing law in the city of Milwaukee, now being associated with the firm of MeGee & JJeger. Nos. 1126-1130 Wells Building, of that city.
William F. Sawyer was born in La Crosse county about two miles northwest of what is now the town of Rockland and attended the country school near Big Creek, afterwards attending Viroqua high school for a time and then came to Sparta, attend- ing the high school there and graduated in the same class with John J. Esch, Frank Oster and others. After leaving the high school he taught school for a time and then attended Valparaiso university where he obtained the degree of A. B. and afterwards entered the Colombia Law School in New York City, finally completing his legal education at the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, which is a part of the University of California, where the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him. He was then admitted to practice law and located at San Francisco, where he has practiced for over twenty years.
At the time of the great earthquake and fire in April, 1906, he had his offices in the Mills building, which was burned and in which he also resided in apartments. He saved some of the records and a few books from his office at the time of the fire, but in order to do so, he had to move them five times and was from four o'clock in the afternoon of the day of the earthquake until the forenoon of the next day in saving what few things were not burned. Immediately after the fire he was in doubt as to what to do, but finally decided to establish an office again and he found that since the earthquake and fire there has been more legal business in the city than there was prior to that time. Mr. Sawyer engages in the general practice of law, except that he does not take criminal cases; and gives special attention to the law of real estate and corporations.
For about ten years Mr. A. C. Freeman, George E. Bates and Mr. Sawyer had offices together, Mr. Freeman being the author of "Freeman on Judgments" and the editor of the "American Decisions" and of the "American State Reports."
Mr. Sawyer is unmarried; and is a member of the Union League Club of San Francisco and takes an active part in polit- ical matters. He is interested in the growth of the city and believes that San Francisco, when fully rebuilt, will be one of the finest eities of its size in the world.
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