USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. II > Part 24
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Mr. Whitehead's father, Jacob, and his mother, Elizabeth Ann Paisley, lived on a farm near Hillsboro, Ill., and were the parents of six sons and four daughters.
The father, born in 1815, left New Jersey in 1824, living at Hamilton, Dayton, Piqua and other points in Ohio, until Decem- ber, 1837, when he came to Alton, Ill., and thence, after one year, to Montgomery county, near Hillsboro, where he obtained his wife. Jacob Whitehead was a member of the Presbyterian church, a colonel in the state militia about the time of the Mexican War, and originally a Democrat. But he voted for Lincoln in 1860, and thereafter was always a Republican. He was both a blacksmith and a farmer, and lived on a farm in that neighborhood until his death, April 24, 1900. He was sur- vived by his wife and six of their ten children. These were : John M., Rev. Jacob P., Elizabeth (matron for thirteen years of the State Hospital at Mendota, Wis.), Joel B., Mary (Mrs. Arthur W. Cole, of Hyde Park, Ill.), and Miss Mattie Whitehead, of Hillsboro, Ill. (now Mrs. Harris), who, with her husband, Pro- fessor William S. Harris, is teaching in the Normal School at Manilla, Philippine Islands.
John M. Whitehead, born on his father's farm July 29, 1852, received a good education at Hillsboro in a local select school and an academy, and at Wabash College one year; then at Willis- ton Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., he completed preparation for entering Yale, and graduated with honor from that university in 1877. He had the exceptional record of not having missed a recitation or a chapel meeting for five years.
After graduating he taught school one year at Ravenswood, Ill., then in the law office of Leaming & Thompson, of Chicago, he thoroughly mastered the elementary principles of law, being admitted to the bar in 1880, and spending five years with that firm as clerk and general assistant. In 1883 he came to Janesville and after several years of individual practice, formed the law partnership, first above mentioned.
July 12, 1881, John M. Whitehead married Miss Lavine Fletcher Barrows, daughter of James L. and Hannah (Cottle)
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Barrows. Their two children are Philip Barrows (now of Yale Divinity School), and Miss Dorothy May. Mrs. Whitehead died March 15, 1888, leaving in the Janesville Congregational church, of which she was an active member, lasting and fragrant memories of her sweet and noble womanhood. Mr. Whitehead, also a member of that church, is president of their board of trustees and has been clerk of the church for some twenty-three years.
By the repeated calls of his fellow citizens rather than his own inclination, Mr. Whitehead has been made a prominent factor in the politics of the state. For several years he has rendered con- spicuous and honorable service in the senate of Wisconsin, and has recently (1908) been re-elected for his fourth consecutive term. Among the stalwart Republicans of the state, so-called, he is a recognized leader.
Bernard Morey Palmer, the son of William F. and Helen A. Palmer, was born at Algoma, Kewaunee county, Wis., October 2, 1878. His place of residence from birth to 1885 was at Algoma ; from 1885 to 1888, he lived at Whitewater, Wis .; from 1888 to 1893, at Neenah, Wis., and since 1893, at Janesville, Wis. He attended the Janesville public schools and the University of Wisconsin. His law course at the university was followed by one year's study in the office of A. A. Jackson, of Janesville. Sep- tember 26, 1902, he was admitted to practice in the Circuit court of Rock county, and December 29, 1903, in the District court of the United States for the western district of Wisconsin. He is practicing in Janesville under the firm name of Dougherty & Palmer. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias., A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. He is a Republican, and has acted as secretary of the Rock county Republican committee, but has never held public office. He was married June 21, 1905, to Caribel Butterfield.
Arthur M. Fisher, a member of the bar of Rock county, was born in the town of Center, in Rock county, on the 29th day of October, 1874. He is a son of Abel L. Fisher and Mary Cleland Fisher, both of whom are still living. He was reared on his father's farm in the town of Center, where he lived until April, 1892. Since that time he has been a resident of the city of Janesville.
Mr. Fisher was educated in the common schools of Rock county, and at Beloit Academy and College. He studied law in the office of William Ruger from 1895 to June 1897. Since his
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admission to the bar, in June of 1897, he has practiced before the Circuit court for Rock county, the Wisconsin Supreme court, and the United States District and Circuit courts for the district of Wisconsin. From June, 1897, to January. 1898, he practiced alone. From January, 1898, to March, 1902, he was associated with B. B. Eldredge, under the firm name of Eldredge & Fisher, and from April, 1902, to February, 1904, with O. A. Oestreich, under the firm name of Fisher & Oestreich. Since the last date he has practiced alone. He has a rapidly increasing law prac- tice, and, by his industry, integrity and ability, is making a sure place for himself at the bar, and as a citizen of Janesville.
Mr. Fisher was married August 26, 1903, to Mary Hadden, of the city of Janesville. A son, Cleland P., and a daughter, Ruth Elizabeth, are the issue of this marriage. In April, 1906, he was elected school commissioner of the city of Janesville. He is a member of the Congregational church. He is identified with some of the business interests that are endeavoring to develop the latent resources of Janesville.
The paternal ancestors of Mr. Fisher came from the north of England. His maternal ancestors emigrated from the county of Lanark, in Scotland, to the north of Ireland, and thence to this country. He has many of the characteristics of his sturdy ancestors. Untiring industry, thoroughness, a fine sense of honor, rugged integrity, and a keen and unselfish interest in public affairs are his leading characteristics.
Horace McElroy, son of George W. and Adelaide (Atkinson) McElroy, was born at Lancaster, Pa., October 2, 1849. He at- tended the common schools of Meadville, Pa., until he was four- teen years old, and then entered the United States navy, and served for the next seven years on board the sailing sloops of war "Macedonian," "Savannah" and "Dale," cruising the while along the Atlantic coast. In 1866 he sailed to France and Eng- land, and in 1867, on board the "Savannah," he cruised the Azores and Maderia. In 1868 he joined with the flagship "Pow- hatan," of the South Pacific station, and served on the staff of Admiral Turner until the following year, when the vessel was ordered to the Atlantic coast, making the midwinter passage of the strait of Magellan, touching at numerous ports on the east side of South America, reaching New York in September, 1869. Young McElroy then sailed for the West Indies, but returned to
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Philadelphia in December of the same year. At this time he received the rank of ensign, and two weeks later joined the "Colorado" in the cruise to China, after which he resigned and came thenee to Janesville.
Filled with ambition to become his own master and lead away from the sailor's life, he decided to commence the study of law, and accordingly entered the office of Messrs. Conger & Sloan. He was an apt pupil and soon found himself fully equipped for the practice of his chosen profession, and in the spring of 1871 he was admitted to the bar and immediately opened his office. He has since served seven years as city attorney for Janesville, and now ranks with the leading lawyers of the town.
Claude J. Hendricks is a promising young lawyer of Janes- ville, where he has been practicing during the greater part of the last decade. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1898, and continued to practice here until June 1, 1900. He then engaged in business with the West Publishing Company, of St. Paul, Minn., acting as associate editor. He remained in this posi- tion about four years until January 1, 1904, when he again opened his law office in Janesville, where he still remains.
Mr. Hendricks was born February 18, 1875, in the town of Porter, this county, where he obtained his primary education in the district schools; he afterward attended the Evansville Seminary for a time, supplementing that with a course in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He is the son of John W. and Ellen (Montgomery) Hendricks.
John Bryson Cleland, now residing in Portland, Ore., is a native of Center township, Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was born on July 15, 1848. His parents were James and Isabella (Bryson) Cleland. His father's parents, Samuel and Jane (Martin) Cleland, were born and married in County Down, Ire- land, and came to the United States about 1816. His mother's parents, John and Martha (Jack) Bryson, were also born and married in County Down, Ireland, and came to the United States about 1827.
Mr. Cleland, our subject, made Rock county his place of residence until 1871, when he moved to Osage, Mitchell county, Ia., and lived there until 1888. From there he moved to Fargo, Cass county, N. Dak., remained for about two years, and then went to Portland, Multnomah county, Ore., where he has resided
4
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since 1890. His education began in the district school of Center township, later he attended the public and private schools of Janesville; the Carroll College at Waukesha, and at the Uni- versity of Michigan. In 1869 he began the study of law in the office of Cassoday & Merrill, and later, in 1870, he studied with Pease & Ruger, in the meantime attending the university where he obtained the degree of LL. B. in March, 1871. He was admit- ted to practice in the Detroit Supreme court of Michigan; in the Janesville Circuit court; in the Osage, Ia., District and Circuit courts of Iowa; later at Des Moines United States Circuit and District court for district of Iowa; in 1888 in the Fargo, Dakota courts of the territory; afterwards practiced in the Supreme court of North Dakota and courts of Minnesota, and also in Salem, Ore., in the State Supreme court. and in the courts of Washington and at Portland in the United States court and District court of district of Oregon. Mr. Cleland has, indeed, covered a large field in the practice of his profession, and espe- cially in Iowa, North Dakota and Oregon he has conducted much important litigation, both civil and criminal; as a special United States commissioner in 1897 he conveyed the franchises and prop- erty of the Oregon Short Line Railroad Company. In Osage, Iowa, he served first as jutsice of the peace and member of the school board; was for eight years district attorney, Twelfth judicial district of Iowa, was circuit judge of the same district, also district judge; resigned in 1898 to fill an appointed position as circuit judge of the Fourth judicial district of Oregon, to which he was elected the same year to a six-year term, and re- elected in June, 1904.
Mr. Cleland served in Iowa militia as adjutant of the Sixth Regiment Iowa National Guards, and the societies of which he is a member are as follows : Osage, Ia., Odd Fellows Noble Grand, Osage, Ia .; senior warden and master of Osage Lodge No. 102, Eastern Star; worthy patron, Bethany Chapter; high priest Osage Royal Arch Chapter No. 36; eminent commander for seven years, senior grand warden of the Grand Commandery, K. T. of Iowa; member of council Royal and Select Masters, and also Order of High Priesthood in Iowa and Oregon; Portland, Ore., senior warden, Portland Lodge No. 55; grand orator, junior grand warden, senior grand warden, deputy grand master and grand master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Oregon; chairman of
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committee that prepared by-laws of the Grand Lodge; trustee of the educational fund several years, and for many years member of committee on Masonie law and jurisprudence; grand lecturer of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Oregon ; eminent commander of Oregon Commandery No. 1, Portland ; also grand commander of the Grand Commandery, K. T., of Oregon. In A. and A. Scottish Rite, southern jurisdiction, served as junior and senior warden Oregon Lodge of Perfection No. 1, Portland, Ore. Has received all the degrees of the rite, including the thirty-third. He is a member of the Multnomah Bar Association, and State Bar Association ; served one term as president of the State Bar Asso- eiation of Oregon, and on the formation of the Pacific Coast Bar Association, was elected its vice president. In polities, he is a member of the Republican party, and has kept up member- ship in many political elubs and has often served on the stump in various campaigns in Iowa and Oregon; he was chairman of the county eentral committee, Mitchell county, Iowa; president of the MeKinley and Hobart League, Portland, Ore., and took an active part in the campaign of 1896, which was closely con- tested in Oregon. Although not a member of any church, he was elected to and served as a member of the board of trustees of the First Congregational church, Portland, and as president of the board.
On February 13, 1874, Mr. Cleland and Miss Ellen Josephine, daughter of the Hon. Jonathan and Elizabeth Cory, of Footville, Rock county, were married at the home of the bride in Center township, and after their removal to Iowa, their family of four children were born to them-Laura, Bessie, Earl and Mattie.
Mr. Cleland is also a lecturer in the law department of the University of Oregon.
Charles D. Rosa is a native of Rock county and was born on a farm in section 9 of the town of Center, on the 15th day of Sep- tember, A. D. 1870. His father was one of the early pioneers of Rock county, having settled in the town of Center in May, 1841. Young Rosa attended the district school near his home during boyhood and at the age of fourteen took upon himself the run- ning of the home farm. He was thus engaged until in his twentieth year, when he was thrown from a horse and injured in such a manner that the doctor advised his giving up the arduous labor of the farm. He then entered Evansville Seminary and
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after two years at that institution came to Beloit and entered Beloit College Academy. Upon finishing at the academy he entered Beloit College and graduated as Salutatorian in the elass of 1898. After graduation he served as principal of schools at the city of Edgerton for three years, when he resigned his posi- tion and moved to Madison to take up the study of law. On the 17th day of August, 1899, he was married to Graee Lillian Cham- berlin, a classmate in Beloit College. He graduated from the law department of the University of Wiseonsin in 1903, having com- pleted the course in two years, and immediately took up the practice of law in the city of Beloit. In April, 1906, he was elected judge of the Municipal court of the city of Beloit and entered upon his duties May 7, 1906.
Thomas S. Nolan, of the firm of Nolan. Adams & Reeder, was born at Janesville. Wis., October 11, 1856. His father, Simon Nolan, of Ireland, emigrated to America while a young man. came to Janesville in 1854 and died there in 1858. He had mar- ried Margaret Cross, of Queen's county, Ireland, and their ehil- dren were Thomas S. and Catherine M. (now Mrs. Walter E. Fernald, superintendent in 1900 of the School for Feeble Minded at Boston, Mass.). Mrs. Nolan survived her husband; after sev- eral years married Mr. Thomas Poey, and their daughter, Mary, beeame Mrs. George E. Lynch, of Milwaukee, Wis.
Thomas S. Nolan supplemented the usual attendance at pub- lie sehool with a course of instruction at Ridgetown (Ontario) Academy and began studying law in the office of Attorney Edward Bates, of York. Neb., after having been previously employed as assistant clerk and then as clerk in the office of the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Completing his course of professional reading at Janesville, Mr. Nolan was admitted to practice in 1879. In 1881 he helped incorporate the Recorder Printing Company and for two years was editor of the "Recorder," which was then a Republican paper.
During the year 1880-1881 he held the office of police justice and has served several terms on the board of fire and police commissioners.
Mr. Nolan is a member of the Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., and of the Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M .. and
COURTS AND LEGAL PROFESSION
also belongs to Oriental Lodge, No. 22, K. of P., in which he has held the office of chancellor commander for two terms.
Thomas S. Nolan was married February 22, 1883, to Miss Jessie M. Murdock, daughter of Edwin D. and Adelia (Hoyt) Murdock, and there has been born to them one daughter, Vera E. Nolan.
During this year (1908) Mr. Nolan was the stalwart Repub- liean candidate for congress in this congressional district, but was defeated by the long established incumbent of that position, Hon. Henry A. Cooper.
Angie Josephine King, attorney and counselor at law, Janes- ville, Wis., is the daughter of John King and Margaret (MeKay) King, both born in Glasgow, Scotland. John King was a carriage builder and a first-class mechanic. He was the son of a Methodist minister, James King, and both father and son were accomplished singers. The mother of Miss King was a superior woman of Highland Scotch birth, coming on the maternal side from the "Argyle-Campbell" family. Miss King was born on January 23, 1845, in a log house on a farm in Trumbull county, Ohio, near the present town of Warren. When only ninety days old she was brought by her parents to Janesville, Wis., where she has resided to the present time. She attended the public schools of Janes- ville and in 1867 graduated from the "Ladies' Seminary" in that city. She entered the Chicago Law School in 1871, when the great fire occurred, and she returned to Janesville. Her law studies were pursued at home, where she read aloud to her blind sister, Mary Agnes King, and they discussed together each chapter as they read and made snyopses in their own language. She was admitted to practice in the Circuit court for Rock county, Jan- uary 10, 1879, having passed a rigid examination and being the third lady to be admitted to the bar in the state. Lavinia Goodell and Kataherine Kane preceded her in admission. February 17, 1880, Miss King formed a partnership with Lavinia Goodell, who removed in 1881 to Madison, Wis. Miss King has remained con- tinuously in the same office block, 26 West Milwaukee street, since she first began practice. She is essentially a peacemaker and has settled scores of difficulties out of court during her thirty years of practice. She won the case of The State of Wis. vs. James Brown in the Circuit court, succeeded in having the case of State of Wis. vs. Thomas Inglis reversed in the Supreme Court. and
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won the case of The Goodyear Rubber Co. vs. A. P. Burrus over the attorney general of the state and four of the leading lawyers of Chicago.
Miss King is a member of the First Congregational Church, of Janesville. She is a Republican, and in the year 1868 she was elected by popular vote as postmaster of Janesville, but was not appointed. She has never married. She is a woman of bright intellect and strong integrity, ever ready to stand by the right and help those in distress.
Malcolm O. Mouat, who ranks among the progressive and suc- cessful younger members of the Janesville bar, was born on a farm in the town of Harmony, Rock county, Wis., June 1, 1872, to James and Mary (Story) Mouat. His father, a Scotchman, was born on one of the Shetland islands in 1829 and came to Wis- consin with his parents in 1846. His mother was a native of Chautauqua county, New York. Malcolm spent his boyhood on his father's farm and until he was fifteen years old attended the district schools and helped with the farm work. He then studied one year at the Janesville High School and in the fall of 1888 entered the Beloit College Academy. After finishing his prepara- tory studies he entered Beloit College and was there graduated with the class of 1894. After leaving college young Mouat beeame a student in the law office of Messrs. Fethers, Jeffris & Fifield at Janesville, and in April, 1896, passed his examination and was admitted to practice in the various state and federal courts. Im- mediately upon his admission to the bar he became associated as a partner with the firm with which he studied, the firm name becoming Fethers, Jeffris, Fifield & Mouat. Afterward the name was changed to Fethers. Jeffris & Mouat by the retirement of Judge Fifield, and in 1908 became Jeffris, Mouat, Smith & Avery by the retirement of Mr. Fethers and the admission of Messrs. Smith and Avery.
Among the more important cases with which Mr. Mouat has been connected are Oakley vs. Davidson, 103 Wis., 98; Rodman vs. Rodman, 112 Wis., 378; Davey vs. Janesville, 111 Wis., 628; McLenegan vs. Yeiser. 115 Wis., 304; Bostwiek vs. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 116 Wis., 392; 122 Wis., 323; Kronshage vs. Varrell, 120 Wis., 161; Parker vs. Fairbanks-Morse Mfg. Co., 130 Wis., 525. Mr. Mouat has never held or desired publie office, preferring to devote himself to the study and practice of his profession, with
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which he is heartily in love and in which he is eminently suc- cessful. Mr. Mouat is a man of genial, social nature and pleasing personality, and has a large circle of staunch friends who admire him for his admirable qualities of mind and heart. He is a mem- ber of the Phi Kappa Psi college fraternity, of the Elks, of Janes- ville Country Club, Sinnissippi Golf Club, and of the local lodge and Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, Knights of Pythias.
In politics Mr. Mouat is a Republican, and though not affiliated with, he attends the Presbyterian church.
On April 20, 1898, Mr. Monat married Miss Eloise, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Palmer, of Janesville, and they have two children, namely, Elizabeth and Malcolm Palmer.
William Smith, who has been a practicing attorney at Janes- ville, Wis., for forty-three years, was born on May 1, 1841, at Dover, in the province of Ontario, then known as upper Canada. He is of English-Irish lineage. William Smith, his father, and Elizabeth, nee Stewart, his mother, were both natives of New York state. His paternal grandparents, natives of Massachusetts, were of English ancestry, and his maternal grandparents were born in the North of Ireland. Since his early infancy, in Sep- tember, 1841, Mr. Smith has lived in Rock county, Wisconsin, and since April, 1864, he has made his home in Janesville. He received a common school education during his boyhood, and later at- tended Milton College, Rock county, and the University of Michi- gan, in the law department of which he pursued a course of law studies. He also studied law in the office and under the direction of Mr. Charles G. Williams, of Janesville, and in February, 1865, was admitted to the Rock county bar. He was later admitted to the State Supreme court and to the Federal, District and Circuit courts. Mr. Smith began his practice alone in 1865, then became associated with Mr. M. M. Phelps under the firm name of Smith & Phelps. His next partnership was with Mr. Charles E. Pierce, the firm name being Smith & Pierce, and at the present time, 1908, he is a member of the well known law firm of Jeffris, Mouat, Smith & Avery, with offices over the Merchants' & Mechanics' Savings Bank, Janesville. Mr. Smith has never sought or cared for political honors, finding in the study and practice of his pro- fession ample scope for the gratification of his ambitions, and is known and recognized as a wise and conservative counselor and able and convincing advocate. He has, however, served as justice
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of the peace and police magistrate and city attorney of Janes- ville. He is a man of quiet demeanor, domestic in his tastes, upright in all his dealings and faithful in all his relations and obligations. In politics he is a Democrat, and in his religious belief a Unitarian.
On April 9, 1868, Mr. Smith married Miss Louise M. Steele, of Janesville. Their only child, Evelyn Louise, born July 15, 1872, died July 15, 1882.
Alexander Everet Matheson, who was born at Eagle, Wis., on July 11, 1868, is a son of John and Mary (Bentley) Matheson. He comes of Scotch ancestry on his father's side, his paternal grand- parents immigrating to the United States from the Highlands of Scotland. His maternal ancestors were of sturdy New England stock. He has always lived in Wisconsin, and besides the place of his birth has resided in the towns of Vernon, Mahews, East Troy and Elkhorn, and is now one of the substantial and well known citizens of Janesville. After finishing his preliminary studies young Matheson pursued a course of studies at Beloit Col- lege and received from that institution the degrees of Bachelor of Philosophy and Master of Arts. He afterwards studied law in the law department of the University of Wisconsin and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1894. Mr. Matheson was admitted to the Wisconsin bar immediately after his graduation from the law school, and is a regular practitioner in all the various state courts and in the Circuit and District Fed- eral courts. On July 1, 1894, he became junior member of the law firm of Fethers, Jeffris, Fifield & Matheson at Janesville. This relationship continued eleven months, when he withdrew, and with Messrs. Whitehead and Smith formed the firm of Whitehead, Matheson & Smith. In 1896 Mr. Smith withdrew from the firm and the practice has since that time been carried on under the firm name of Whitehead & Matheson.
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