USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 102
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In politics he has always been a moderate demo- crat, having inherited his political views from his ancestors ; but he was instinctively opposed to slav- ery, and fully acquiesced in the abolition of that institution, and in the constitutional amendments enfranchising the negro.
Since early manhood he has been an exemplary member of the Presbyterian church, and for twenty years past has been an elder in the Immanuel con- gregation of that denomination of Christians in Milwaukee.
In 1867 he made a six months' tour in Europe, visiting most of the continental cities, as well as those of Great Britain.
Mr. Lynde is a man of blameless life and spotless reputation - emphatically "an honest man." As a private gentleman and member of society he is. genial, courteous and complaisant, possessing fine conversational powers, always entertaining and often spicy ; and while his opinions upon all subjects are
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fixed and firmly held, yet he never intrudes them upon others ; and although one of the most finished scholars and linguists of the day, he is proverbially modest and unassuming, always adapting his con- versation to the intellectual status of his auditors ; nor has he ever had a misunderstanding with any one during his whole life. He is a man of great generosity in his gifts to religious and benevolent objects, whether public or private, and especially generous in his contributions toward the support of the institutions of the church with which he is in communion. In private life he is a pattern of virtue and morality. As a lawyer he is thoroughly read, perhaps more so than any other practitioner in the Northwest. He is, however, more of a court pleader than an advocate before a jury, that is, more at home in arguing a point of law before a judge than in carrying a case to a jury on a question of facts. His specialty in the profession is admiralty and patent law, and he is, perhaps, more familiar with current decisions on questions of commercial and admiralty law than any other member of the bar west of the Alleghany mountains. His success in this depart- ment of the practice eminently attests his ability.
His education is thorough, embracing ancient and modern languages and all the learning of the schools; his judgment is piercing, and able to trace the most intricate difficulties of science ; his taste refined and quick to relish all the beauties of sentiment and composition. He is a diligent student and a regular reader of French and German journals and periodi- cals. As a public speaker he is fluent, eloquent, logical and forcible, his manner being solemn and dignified - especially in court-never in his public addresses indulging in wit or drollery.
On the 24th of May, 1841, a few days after his admission to the bar, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. Azarial Blanchard, of Truxton,
Cortland county, New York, a gifted and highly accomplished lady and a graduate of the Albany Female Academy, where she took the first prize in composition, her essay being read before the faculty by the late Hon. Wm. H. Seward. She is a woman of active mind and eminently social qualities, fore- most in every enterprise, whether public or private, for the benefit of the community. She was appointed by Governor Fairchild a member of the first board of directors of the State charities of Wisconsin, and held the office for four years. She was one of the founders of the orphan asylum of Milwaukee, and has been a member of its board of directors since its organization. She was also the prime mover in founding the industrial school for girls of the city, and is president of its board of directors. She has also been for many years a member of the Social Science Association of the United States, to the pub- lications of which she is a frequent and valued con- tributor. She is likewise a conspicuous member of Immanuel congregation of the Presbyterian church, Milwaukee, where her wise counsels and pious example exercise a controlling influence.
They have had seven children, one of whom died in infancy, and six survive, namely, Mary Elizabeth, Clara Blanchard, Eliza Warner, Telly, William Pitt and Azarial Blanchard. Mary E. was married in 1860 to Mr. John Harper, son of Joseph Harper of Harper Brothers, New York. He died in 1867, and in 1870 she married Mr. Colgate Baker, a retired merchant residing in San Francisco, California. Clara B. is the wife of Henry C. Bradley, Esq., also a retired merchant in San Francisco. Eliza WV. is the wife of John Crocker, Esq., an officer of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Com- pany. Telly is a merchant in Milwaukee. The two younger sons are graduates of the scientific depart- ment of Yale College, and are preparing for the bar.
HON. NOAH H. VIRGIN,
PLATTEVILLE.
T HE great-grandfather of Noah Hyatt Virgin came from Wales. and settled in Maryland, and one of his sons, the grandfather of Noah, moved to Virginia, and was prominent in driving the In- dians out of western Pennsylvania and West Vir- ginia. The parents of Noah, Eli and Nacka Hyatt Virgin were living in Fayette county, Pennsylvania,
when he was born, December 6, 1812. He lost his father when the son was only six years old. A few years later his mother married Colonel Henry Heaton, of Fayette county, and Noah worked in his step-father's flouring mill and woolen mill, receiv- ing meanwhile such education as a winter school afforded. Subsequently he lived with his brother-
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in-law, Isaac Hill, of Green county, learning the millwright trade.
He worked at that business in the East until 1835, when he found his way to Platteville, there con- tinuing that occupation four or five years. He built the Platteville flouring mill, completing it in 1840 (the first mill of the kind in the place), having in partner- ship with him John H. Rountree and Neely Gray. These gentlemen he afterward bought out, and he has run the mill alone to this time. In company with another man, in 1856, he built the Genesee mill, two miles from Platteville, on the Lancaster road, disposing of it four or five years later.
In 1874 Mr. Virgin added grain dealing to his business, with his eldest son, Colonel Horatio Hyatt Virgin, as a partner.
He was commissioner of Grant county at an early day; has repeatedly held the highest official posi- tions in the village of Platteville ; was a member of the last Territorial legislature, held in 1847; was a member of the State assembly in the following year, and again in 1855, and served two consecutive terms in the senate, ending in 1861. During the last term he was chairman of the committee on claims, and held an influential position in the upper house.
Mr. Virgin began political life as a whig; was a republican from 1854 until the second election of Mr. Lincoln in 1864, and has since acted with the democrats. In 1866 he was nominated by the dem- ocrats and reformers for congress, in a strong repub- lican district, and ran ahead of his ticket.
On the 15th of January, 1839, Mrs. Pamelia E. Adams, daughter of Rev. Bartholomew Weed, of Platteville, became his wife, and she has borne him eight children, only four of whom are living. Besides the son already mentioned there are two daughters, both married, and a son, Eugene W., unmarried. Emma is the wife of George H. Laugh-
ton, and Mary, of William R. Laughton, a brother of George, both living in Platteville.
Colonel Horatio H. Virgin, his eldest child and partner in business, was born in Platteville, August 18, 1840 ; was educated in the Platteville Academy and a commercial college at Madison, Wisconsin, where he graduated in December, 1859.
He was married January 1, 1874, to Miss Annie E. Kane, of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, she being a rel- ative of ex-Governor Henry Dodge. They have two children. Colonel Virgin has a brilliant mili- tary record. In October, 1861, Governor Randall appointed him on his staff as aid-de-camp and col- onel ; in December, 1861, he became battalion adju- tant of the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, Colonel C. C. Washburn, commander; August 31, 1862, he was appointed major of the 33d Infantry ; was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in January, 1865, and returned to Wisconsin at the close of the war in command of the regiment, being breveted colonel just before the regiment was mustered out. He was in forty-two engagements, including skirmishes ; had three horses wounded twice each; had his own hair singed, his hat-rim hit, and two or three balls strike his saddle, but received not even a flesh-wound. While major he took command of the regiment in the Meridian expedition, and held the command until mustered out. On the Red River expedition, at the battle of Yellow Bayou, he had command of a brigade. At that time his regiment was in a detachment from the army of the Tennessee, under General A. J. Smith, and they had become so rugged as to be called " Smith's Guerillas." At the battle of Cold- water, Mississippi, April 19, 1863, Colonel Virgin was reported among the killed, and his obituary appeared in more than one Wisconsin newspaper, but he is as "live " a man as Platteville can exhibit, the pet of his father, and, because of his dash and bravery, the pride of the State.
GEORGE H. READ,
OSHKOSH.
G EORGE HOVE READ, a son of William and Mary (Hoye) Read, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1819. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors were from the north of Ire- land. William Read, a bookbinder by trade, moved with his family to New York city in 1824. There
George attended a graded school until about seven- teen, when he commenced to learn his father's trade. He worked at it in New York until about 1835. During that year the family visited Ohio, and in 1837 settled at Buffalo, New York. There George was engaged in bookbinding and in publishing
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books and periodicals until June, 1853, when he settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.' Purchasing the Oshkosh "Courier," a weekly democratic paper, he published it for ten years, acting in the capacity of political editor. In February, 1854, when the city had only about four thousand inhabitants, a daily edition was started, and kept up for about six years, showing in its columns very commendable industry and editorial ability. It was the first daily started in Oshkosh, and was a bold venture.
Though having only a common-school education, Mr. Read has, from early life, been a great reader. He has kept well posted on current events, a fact which has prompted his success as a journalist.
Soon after settling in Oshkosh he began to deal in real estate, and in 1863, when he sold out the "Courier," he engaged in land operations more ex- tensively, and has been quite successful in that line.
He has also, for several years, been engaged in in- surance in connection with his other business.
Mr. Read is a member of the democratic State central committee, and quite active and prominent in his party. He is not himself an office seeker, and will work untiringly to elect his friends to office. He did consent to run for alderman some years ago, and when once in the council he was kept there eight years.
Mr. Read is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a mem- ber of no church, but is partial to the Episcopal form of worship.
His wife was Caroline M. Steward, of Buffalo, New York. They were married April 20, 1842, and have no children. Mrs. Read has a taste for land- scape painting, and still gratifies that taste to some extent. She has fine literary taste, and makes good use of their fine library of rare and select books.
HON. FREDERICK ROBINSON,
KENOSIIA.
F REDERICK ROBINSON was born in Church- Stretton, Shropshire, England, March 11, 1824, and is the ninth and youngest child of John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Robinson, both natives of the same place. His father was a merchant and a man of much force of character, and a leader and reform- er in his day. He advocated the closing of saloons early in the evening, and the keeping of them closed during church service on Sunday. He was also a loyal member of the Church of England and quite influential in his parish. He died at an early age, when our subject was but eighteen months old. His widow, who was a vigorous and gifted woman, assumed the management of the business and house- hold after the death of her husband, and devoted all her energies to the education and moral training of her children. She died in 1857, at the age of seventy-five.
Frederick was educated at a private school in all the English branches, mathematics and the Latin language. But in early life he suffered from feeble health, which retarded his progress in learning. He was a steady and conscientious boy, rather retiring in disposition, and selected his companions from youth of similar character. He was always fond of amusements that contributed to the development of his mental and physical powers, and was willing to
pay his full share of the incidental expenses; but he was always noted for prudence in his financial affairs, and never purchased anything until he knew exactly whence the money was to come with which to pay for it, a principle by which he has been governed through life, and which has kept him out of debt and out of trouble.
At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the drug business, to which, for five years, he de- voted his entire time and energies, studying inces- santly to master his business. He early trained himself to punctuality and regularity in bis appoint- ments, never broke his word, and was remarkably tenacious of his plans and purposes, never giving up a project while there was the slightest hope of success.
After the expiration of his apprenticeship he im- migrated to the United States, landing in New York city in the spring of 1845, where he obtained a clerk- ship in a drug store at eight dollars per month, and afterward in the wholesale drug house of M. Ward, Close and Co., at twenty-four dollars per month. After remaining a short time in that city he resolved to go west, and intimated his purpose to his employ- ers, who were so favorably impressed with his char- acter that they gave him a six-weeks leave of ab- sence, continuing his wages, should he return to
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their employment, and in the event of his deciding to remain in the West, offered to set him up in busi- ness. Accordingly in the spring of 1846 he removed to Chicago, and after remaining there a short time went to Kenosha, where he passed the winter, and in the spring of the following year started on foot to find a location where he could commence business. He walked through the lake-shore towns to She- boygan, thence to Fond du Lac, returning via Water- town, but saw no point he liked as well as Kenosha, and accordingly resolved to make that place his future home. Here he commenced business in the autumn of 1847, and has since continued with good success, his old friends and former employers, Ward, Close and Co., proving quite as good as their prom- ise. It is needless to add that his honest and manly efforts, coupled with his high moral principles, have been rewarded with success, and that Frederick Robinson is now one of the most substantial and influential men of his city.
In 1867 he purchased a third interest in the Whit- aker Engine and Skein Company, of Kenosha. He is also the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land adjoining the city, which is under a high state of cultivation, and to which he gives considerable personal attention. He has always been a man of public spirit, taking a lively interest in whatever seemed to be for the benefit of the city or community.
He served as alderman of the city of Kenosha in 1852, 1858 and 1868; he was chief engineer of the fire department in 1850, 1860 and 1872; chairman of the county board in 1868; mayor of the city in
1862-3 and 1869; member of the State legislature in 1872 and 1876; and president of the County Agricultural Society in 1877.
He became a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows in 1848, and has held the offices of secretary, treasurer, vice-noble grand, and high priest, in the order. He joined the Masonic order in 1852, and has held several offices in that fraternity.
In political opinions he is democratic, though not a partisan. Before immigrating to America he in- formed himself of the resources, political freedom and great prospects of this country, and always held the opinion that men and not property should vote. During the rebellion he was known as a "war dem- ocrat."
Mr. Robinson is a man of active temperament, a good and successful business man, and has filled with ability, zeal and credit the various political offices to which the suffrages of his fellow-citizens elected him, and was one of the most popular chief magistrates the city has had, while as a legislator he gave his support to measures calculated to benefit the city and State of his adoption. As a farmer and gardener he displays exquisite taste and judgment, and his country home is one of the most ornate and elegantly appointed in the county.
On the 3d of October, 1852, he was married to Miss Ann Bertholf, a native of Illinois, whose par- ents removed there from New York in 1831. They have had a family of fourteen children, seven of whom are living, namely, Alma Elizabeth, Richard Taylor, Ida Ann, Emma Eliza, Maria Louisa, Fred- erick, junior, and Harry Bertholf.
AARON EVERHARD,
RIPON.
ARON EVERHARD is a native of Doylestown, A Wayne county, Ohio. He was born on the Toth of March, 1824, and is the son of John Jacob and Mary Everhard.
His father was a farmer by occupation, and taught school during the winter months. He was a deacon in the Lutheran church, and reared his family accord- ing to the strictest principles of morality. A man of very decided character, he was a firm advocate of temperance, and so adhered to his principles that, on one occasion, when he wanted a barn raised, he was obliged to hire hands to do it, his neighbors
refusing to assist him because he would not furnish liquor.
Aaron received his education at Wadsworth Academy, Wadsworth, Medina county, Ohio, and after closing his studies there, by the advice of his father, he went to study medicine with Dr. Arm- strong, of Dayton, Ohio. He remained there four years, and during that time attended two courses of lectures at the Western Reserve College, at Cleve- land.
After practicing his profession for one year in Medina county, he, in 1849, removed to the West
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and settled at a place on the Fox river now known as Hamilton, it being the only point at which the Fox river was then bridged.
The land in this locality, however, proved so poor that the settlers were obliged to leave, and Dr. Everhard with the rest. Removing to Ripon in the summer of 1856, which then comprised about five hundred inhabitants, he at once established himself as a physician and surgeon, and soon built up a flourishing and lucrative practice.
Since settling in Ripon he has been constantly employed in his profession, and for more than seven years has been city physician, being paid by the city.
Dr. Everhard was formerly a member of the Cleve- land Medical Society; later he belonged to the Medical Society of Northern Wisconsin, and at the present time (1877) is a member of the Fond du Lac Medical Society. In 1871 he was elected mayor of the city, and since that time has been twice re-
elected, being the only man who was ever elected mayor of Ripon on the democratic ticket. In pol- itics he was formerly a democrat ; later he was a "free-soiler," and upon the organization of the republican party joined that body and continued to support its principles until the close of the civil war, when he again became a democrat. He is now a reformer.
Dr. Everhard united with the Lutheran church when he was sixteen years old, and continued a member of that body until he settled in Wisconsin. Since then he has not been identified with any religious denomination, but is still a Lutheran in sentiment.
He was married in 1851, to Miss Ann Vennette Marsh. Personally and socially he is a man of sterling qualities, and from his extensive travels through the different parts of the United States has gained a knowledge of men and things that render him a most admirable social companion.
D. EDGAR FRENCH,
MILWAUKEE.
D. EDGAR FRENCH, a native of Barre, Ver- mont, was born on the 23d of December, 1833, and is the son of David French and Delia née French. (His parents, though of the same namc, were not related.) They had a family of five sons and six daughters. Of the daughters, two died in early life, and one became the wife of E. E. French, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Barre, Vermont; an- other married Nathaniel Chamberlain, Esq., and a third married A. M. Jackmon, Esq., at present sheriff of Washington county, Vermont, all residents of their native town; while the fourth remains single. Of the sons, one died in youth; Orvis resides at Evanston, Illinois ; Clinton lives at Cleveland, Ohio; and Gilbert L. is a resident of New York city. The father of this large family, for many years a prosper- ous merchant in Barre, Vermont, was a well-known and influential man in his community. He died on the 20th of August, 1862, at Saratoga Springs, New York, where he had been accustomed to spend his summers for twenty years previously.
Our subject received his primary education in the common schools of his native place. He afterward spent one year at an academy in Montpelier, and still later studied one year at Keene, New York.
At the age of fifteen he accepted a clerkship in the store of his brother Clinton, at Plainfield, Ver- mont, but soon afterward transferred his services to the establishment of Messrs. Lyman and King, of Montpelier, Vermont. Here he remained for two years, being a fellow-clerk with Mr. Edson Keith, now of Chicago. Meantime his brother Clinton had established himself in business at Cleveland, Ohio, and at the close of this period he removed thither, and for a year and a half was employed in his brother's business. Wishing, however, for a larger field of operations, and a more varied experience, he removed to New York city, and was employed in the house of Claflin, Mellen and Co. (now H. B. Claflin and Co.), where he remained until January 1, 1856, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here, in company with his brother, Orvis, he estáb- lished a business, which was conducted under the firm name of French Brothers and Co. until the year 1861, when he purchased the interest of his partners. Since that time he has continued the trade successfully in his own name; and although still in the full vigor of life, he has accumulated an ample fortune, and contemplates retiring from business at an early day, and spending the remainder of his life
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in foreign travel and in the management of his property.
In manners he is off-hand, apparently impulsive; frank, genial and open-hearted. In business he is self-reliant, cool, calculating and prudent. In his relations to the public he is dignified, manly and independent. He thinks and acts for himself, and rarely makes a mistake. In private life he is kind, generous and obliging; a fast and true friend; an upright, honorable and worthy gentleman.
He was married in October, 1859, to Miss Eliza- beth Pixley, daughter of Maurice and Elizabeth Pixley, and niece of John W. Pixley, elsewhere sketched in this volume. She was born in Milwau- kee, where the first four years of her life were spent, after which, with her parents, she removed to Hills-
dale, Columbia county, New York, their former home, where she remained till the age of eighteen years. She was educated at the Troy Ladies' Semi- nary, then under the charge of Mrs. Willard, and recognized as the first educational establishment of its kind in the State. She graduated from this insti- tution with the highest honors, and is a lady of superior culture, being especially accomplished as a musician, but like her father-most of whose traits of character she perpetuates-she is extremely modest and unassuming, fond of home and domes- tic pursuits, amiable, gentle, kind-hearted and be- nevolent. She is one of the best and purest of her sex; esteemed and respected by all who know her. They have three children, namely, Maurice Pixley, Alice Virginia and Edgar.
HON. JOHN C. HOLLOWAY,
LANCASTER.
JOHN CHANDLER HOLLOWAY, a son of John and Lucy Burt Holloway, is a native of Living- ston county, New York, he being born in the town of York, July 7, 1826. The Holloways were early set- tlers in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the grand- father of John C. was a blacksmith, connected with a cavalry company during the seven years' fight for freedom from British rule and taxation. The fam- ily immigrated to western New York at the close of the second war with the mother country, there en- gaging in farming, this being the constant employ- ment of young Holloway until of age, with the exception of a few terms of academical instruction at Geneseo and Lima. At twenty-one he came as far west as Flint, Michigan, where he was engaged in building fanning-mills for two seasons, and re- moved thence, after a short sojourn at his home in western New York, to Marion, Ohio, where he farmed and dealt in stock for four years.
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