USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 20
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! this he became connected with Genoa Academy, in Cayuga county, New York, as a teacher of Latin and Greek. This position he held for one year, and then resigned it for the purpose of accepting the profes- sorship of mathematics and languages in Cayuga Academy, located at Aurora, in the same county. In 1847 he relinquished his professorship for the purpose of accepting the presidency of Auburn Female Seminary, to which he had been elected by the board of trustees. That he should be selected to fill a position of such delicate responsibility at the age of twenty-three sufficiently shows the high es- teem in which he was then held as a man of worth, ability and learning. He did not, however, retain the situation, in consequence of a difference in relig- ious sentiments between him and the trustees of the institution. Finding that he could not retain his position consistently with his own ideas of liberty of thought, and knowing full well that religious differ- ences admitted of no compromises, he sent in his resignation to the trustees of the seminary, and soon after went to New York city, with a view of entering upon a literary career. He did not remain long in the metropolis of the nation before he found work to do. He was employed in the literary department of the "Democratic Review," and subsequently held a similar position on the editorial staff of the "Whig Review." His contributions to both periodicals at- tracted marked attention, and soon won for their author a high reputation as a scholar and a vigorous writer. At about this period in his life he began a serious and thoughtful investigation of the religious question, first reading Leibnitz, and never pausing in his inquiries until he had completed a thorough and systematic course in theology. Beginning his inves- tigations with liberal sentiments, reading, reflection and study into the great mystery served but to con- firm his impressions and deepen his convictions, and the final result was that he arose from his theolog- ical. task with many doubts removed, but wholly emancipated from the shackles of creeds, sects and dogmas, and at the same time settled in the logical conclusion that the best religion was that which taught the philosophical doctrine that everything was ordered for the best. After having completed his theological studies he was ordained a minister by the Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin, but true to his opti- mistic views, he declined to unite with any church or subscribe to any creed. During the three subse- quent years he followed his new vocation, having accepted the position of religious instructor to a
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society in Newark, New Jersey, which was composed of a mixed congregation of Universalists, Unitarians and Swedenborgians. Dr. Wight's discourses, which were more like philosophical essays than sermons, attracted the attention of the intellectual classes. At the end of three years he terminated his engagement at Newark, and went to the city of Boston, where he remained for two years, occupying his time in read- ing, writing and lecturing on a variety of topics. As he had from boyhood up been governed by system in his literary pursuits, he now devoted his reading hours to the subject of metaphysics. During these two years he also wrote the lives of Abelard and Heloise, translated and published M. Cousin's " His- tory of Philosophy," collected and published in book form Sir William Hamilton's philosophical papers, with an introduction and explanatory notes. His edition of the last-named work is still used as a text- book in several of our colleges.
In the spring of 1853 Dr. Wight crossed the At- lantic for the first time, on a literary visit to the old world. He divided the summer months between the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, reaching London in the early part of the autumn, where he remained until the last of December. While there he was employed by a British publish- ing house to translate "The True, the Beautiful and the Good," a work written by M. Cousin. The ex- cellent manner in which he accomplished his literary task showed his perfect familiarity with the French language, and gave him a high reputation at once as a translator. His employers expressed their satis- faction in flattering terms, as the work commanded a rapid and very extensive sale. He crossed the channel early in January to winter in Paris. Having letters of introduction from distinguished sources in England, he had no difficulty in gaining admission into the best society of the Fubourg Saint Germain, where are to be found the most polished circles in the politest city of the world. It is rare that stran- gers meet with such opportunities for social enjoy- ment, cultivation and observation. Having spent an exceedingly profitable and pleasant winter in the French capital, he returned to America in the spring of 1854, where he remained but a short time before he recrossed the ocean for the purpose of a more extended tour on the continent of Europe. He was absent this time four years; although occupied in traveling in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, England, etc., they were years of labor, study, thought and reflection. He strove not only to perfect him-
self in the languages of the countries he visited, but to make himself familiar with their history, laws and customs, and the characteristics of the people. Dur- ing these four years he wrote a book in two volumes, which was published anonymously in London. Hav- ing completed his European tour, he once more re- turned to his native shore, settled in the vicinity of New York and resumed his literary labors, which he continued steadily to pursue for several subsequent years. He became a regular contributor to the "New Englander," the "North American," and other periodical publications. Original articles were not the only fruits of his literary efforts; several translations from the French fell from his active and easy pen. Among those was a splendid edition of " Montaigne," " Pascal's Thoughts and Provincial Letters," "Germany," by Madame de Staël, "Cha- teaubriand's Martyrs," " Selections from Balzac," etc. In 1861 he had an opportunity to return to Europe as a diplomate, the mission to Switzerland having been tendered to him by Mr. Seward, a position which he however declined. Soon after his first return from Europe Dr. Wight was married.
Somewhat late in life Dr. Wight began the study of medicine, and having once turned his attention to the subject, his habit of investigation and tenacity of purpose forced him onward until he had added a full medical course to the sum of his mental acqui- sitions, and taken his regular degree as an M.D. The two years immediately preceding the close of the war Dr. Wight resided in the State of Pennsyl- vania upon an estate which he had purchased. Dur- ing this time he took quite an active part in politics. Soon after the war ended he came to Wisconsin ; settled first at Oconomowoc, and for four years prac- ticed medicine in that locality. In 1871 he removed to Milwaukee, where he still resides. Notwithstand- ing his extensive literary labors, his study of lan- guages, his thorough investigations into the subjects of theology, metaphysics, philosophy and medicine, he has still found leisure to read through a regular course of legal studies and gain admission to the bar, although he has never made any practical use of it except in the management of his business. In the fall of 1873 Dr. Wight took an earnest and lead- ing part in organizing the elements of opposition to the republican party in Wisconsin, a movement which resulted in the nomination and election of Governor Taylor and his associates on the ticket. In the midst of the great variety of his other literary pur- suits he has not neglected the subject of politics, and
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his contributions to the political literature of the day, both on the stump and through the press, have been numerous and able. His life has been active and laborious, and very few men of his age have accom- plished more in results. His reading has been sys- tematic and thorough, and has familiarized him with almost every conceivable branch of knowledge and system of philosophy. His writings have been extensive, and some of his works have received favorable notice from transatlantic critics, and have been republished in England. At home his literary fame has won him honorary degrees from Yale Col- lege and other first-class institutions. He has also been offered the chair of modern languages in one New England College, the chair of history in another, and the chair of metaphysics in a third. Dr. Wight is a man of strong convictions, ardent temperament, and he always fulfills to the letter the scriptural in- junction, whatever he finds to do, to do it with all his might. But his title to honorable distinction does not rest solely upon the foundation of mere learning. In no sense can he be regarded as a book-worm, for nature has endowed him with the faculty of common sense in a large degree. Inherit-
ing a strong and healthy constitution, which he has never impaired by intemperance or excess, he is capable of great endurance, both physical and men- tal. His retentive memory enables him to repeat long passages from ancient authors which he has not read for many years.
Physically, Dr. Wight presents a fine specimen of mature manhood. He is six feet high, perfectly erect, and weighs one hundred and sixty-five pounds ; is quick in his movements, graceful, pleasing and social in his manners. The generosity of his nature not unfrequently leads him to acts of liberality which his means would hardly justify. In private life, and especially in the social circle when sur- rounded by a few chosen friends, his colloquial tal- ents make him a very interesting companion.
Dr. Wight is now surgeon-general and State geologist of Wisconsin. His life has been one of unremitting activity, and if a man's actions are the unerring criteria of his character, and which, if in- spired by pure principles, are also the best commen- tary upon his life, then Dr. Wight's position in the literary and scientific world is as definite and fixed as any man's can be.
WILLIAM C. E. THOMAS,
GREEN BAY.
T' HE subject of this sketch, a native of Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was born on the 21st of November, 1818, and is the son of Arthur Thomas, a merchant, and Susan née Gillespie. His boyhood, very like that of others, presented no marked characteristics. He received a good Eng- lish education in the public schools, and in an acad- emy at Milton, Pennsylvania, and after closing his studies, served an apprenticeship of four years, learn- ing the printer's trade. In 1839, being then twen- ty-one years of age, he left his home, and removing to the West, settled at Galena, Illinois, where, four years later, he engaged in the publication of the "Galena Gazette." At the expiration of six years of successful work, he was forced by impaired health to close out his interests here, and removing to Green Bay, Wisconsin, erected a large tannery, and built up an extensive business. In 1851, having accumulated sufficient capital, he established himself in the mer- cantile trade, opening a store of general merchan- dise, and continued thus employed during a period
of six years, in which time he became widely known as a thorough, reliable business man. Selling his mercantile interests in 1857, he spent the next two years as a forwarding and commission merchant, and at the same time engaged in the steamboat business. He was next employed as express agent, and in this, as in all other capacities in which he had acted, showed himself most worthy of the trust reposed in him. Aside from his regular busi- ness, he has been honored by his fellow-citizens with many responsible positions, and in no single instance has he failed to acquit himself with credit.
Mr. Thomas, thus beginning life with no capital other than his own native powers, has so turned the circumstances into which he was thrown, that he has accumulated a competence, and by strict adherence to principle, has gained the reputation wherever he is known, of being a conscientious, prompt and true man. Coming to Wisconsin at an early day he has grown up with the State, and in all matters pertaining to its growth, and especially
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to the development of his own city, he has heartily lent his influence and support. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, and gained an experience and a fund of knowledge which, com- bined with his excellent social qualities, render him a most agreeable companion.
In 1854 he was elected the first mayor that Green Bay ever had; five years later he was chosen city
clerk and justice of the peace, and was reëlected to the office of clerk for each year till 1872. In 1871 he was appointed postmaster by President Grant, and still holds that office. His political sentiments are republican.
He was married on the 8th of March, 1846, to Miss Jane Eames, and by her has one son and one daughter.
HON. LLEWELLYN BREESE, PORTAGE.
Ţ LEWELLYN BREESE was born May 13, 1833, - at Abermynach, in the parish of Mallwyd, Meirionwethshire, North Wales. The name of his father, who is still living, is Edward Breese, and that of his mother, who died in April, 1873, was Mary Breese. He immigrated with his parents to this country in the month of May, 1846, and the family, consisting of father, mother, brother and himself, settled during the following summer on a farm in the town of Randolph, Columbia county, in this State. This was when Wisconsin was a territory and before the town was organized. His education was academic. Up to the age of twenty-five he was engaged most of the time with his parents in culti- vating the farm. In the fall of 1858, owing to im- paired health, which was brought on by severe ill- ness, he accepted the position of under sheriff of Columbia county, which was tendered him by Ben- jamin Williams, Esq., hoping thereby to improve his health and to extend his knowledge of business and the circle of his acquaintance. Previous to this he had held the offices of school district clerk, town supervisor, justice of the peace and town treasurer. When he removed to Portage to take the position of under sheriff, it was his intention at the expiration of his term, provided his health was restored, to return to the farm and devote the remainder of his life to the pursuit of agriculture ; but at the close of the term, in the fall of 1860, he received from the republican county convention the nomination for county treasurer, and was elected the following No- vember. He held this position for three consecutive terms, in all six years, having no competitor for the office except in the first instance. In January, 1867, at the close of his third term as treasurer, he entered as a partner the dry-goods firm of N. H. Wood and Co., which was the most extensive business estab-
lishment in the city. The firm was then composed of N. H. Wood, R. O. Loomis, C. R. Gallett and himself. This connection was continued until Jan- uary, 1869, when Mr. Wood disposed of his interest to the other partners and retired from the firm, which thereafter stood and was styled Loomis, Gal- lett and Breese. The firm as then constituted has never changed, and is still doing a large and suc- cessful business. In the summer of 1869, at the urgent solicitation of friends, especially those of his countrymen, he became a candidate for the office of state treasurer at the State convention held that fall. On the first informal ballot he received a plurality of the votes, but owing to local combinations the nomination fell to his competitor. In about a month after this convention, Hon. E. A. Spencer, the nom- inee for secretary of state, resigning the position upon the ticket, made it necessary for the State central committee to fill the vacancy by appoint- ment. Without solicitation on his part, or even knowledge of the vacancy, the committee tendered him the nomination for that place, communicating their action by telegraph. Had it not been for the persistent entreaty of a few intimate friends, promi- nent in the party, the appointment would have been declined. He was elected the following November.
Under the organization of the State government of Wisconsin, the office of secretary of state is by far the most important of the State offices; besides involving the duties of secretary of state proper, this officer is also ex-officio auditor of state, and school land commissioner, and also ex-officio commissioner of insurance. The last position was created by the legislature in 1870, soon after the commencement of his first term. In a majority of the other States these positions are distinct and separate offices, filled by persons elected or appointed for that purpose.
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In May, 1870, he represented Wisconsin as com- missioner of insurance at the national insurance convention, held in the city of New York. This convention was composed of those officers in the different States who had charge of the insurance departments therein. He was elected vice-president of the convention for the term of one year, and was also appointed chairman of the important standing committee on taxes, fees and deposits. This con- vention held its second session at the same place in the following October, when he was reelected to the same position for the year 1872. At its third session, held this year, he was elected president, and pre- sided at its fourth session, held in the city of Boston in September of the following year. After the ex- piration of his second term as secretary of state, he returned to his former residence at Portage and resumed his former occupation as a merchant. In addition to this he also held the positions of presi- dent of the City Bank of Portage, president of the Portage Iron Works and president of the board of education. He has been engaged in farming more or less extensively throughout his life.
Religiously, he is a member and an elder of the Presbyterian church. His parents were members of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church, a denom- ination holding the same doctrines and having very nearly the same form of government. It was in this church that he was baptized in infancy and brought up; he became a full member of it at the age of fourteen, maintaining this relation until he came to Portage in January, 1859, when, taking his letter of membership with him, he connected himself at once with the Presbyterian church of that city, with which he is now united. He received during his minority a very faithful and strict moral and religious training
and education, both from his devoted parents and from the church, of which he was chosen superin- tendent of the Sabbath school at the age of twenty- one years, and labored in every department of relig- ious work in which it was proper for a layman to engage. Soon after removing to Portage he was elected deacon, and was shortly afterward elected an elder, holding the position until he removed to Madison. Shortly after taking up his residence in Madison he was elected by the Presbyterian church of that city as one of its elders, which position he held while he remained with them, and after return- ing to his former residence at Portage he was re- elected to the same position in the Presbyterian church of that city. From an early age he has always been engaged either as a superintendent of a Sabbath school or as teacher of a class therein.
The character of Mr. Breese very happily illus- trates the truth of the maxim that character is formed by circumstances. The most efficient agen- cies in the formation of character are the teachings by precept and example of parents to their children. Natural affection inspires the child not only with confidence in the ability of the parents, but with reverence for their virtues and faith in their religion. Mr. Breese's character for honor, integrity and piety are but the outgrowth of those qualities which dis- tinguish his parents, whereas men less favored in their birth and education have, lured by the beauty of virtue and the life of holiness, attained high moral excellence, but it has been a life-long struggle. The characters may be alike in moral beauty, yet the man who has struggled is the superior in mental strength. There is a majesty in the lives of the virtuous which awes the licentious into reverence. Pure morals are the basis of all true greatness.
GEORGE W. OGDEN,
MILWAUKEE.
C EORGE WHITFIELD OGDEN, a native of T Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was born on the 28th of October, 1844, and is the son of John Ogden and Jane E. née Gray. His parents were among the pioneers of Wisconsin, having settled there in 1835, and much esteemed by all who knew them.
George's boyhood, presenting few marked charac- teristics, was very like that of other boys. Indus- trious, enterprising and energetic, he early laid the
foundation of his subsequent success as a business man. After the close of his studies in the public schools of Milwaukee, at the age of sixteen, he was five years a clerk in the clothing store of P. G. Ogden, and afterward for one year in the same capacity with a Mr. J. F. Wage. Subsequently he spent some time traveling in the West, with a view of settling, but finally returned, and engaged in clerking at Chicago, and there remained eight
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montlıs. At the expiration of this time, his father, who had been engaged in a carriage manufacturing establishment since 1849, was about to retire from the concern, and the son, seeing in the enterprise a fine opening, at once assumed the business, which at that time was very much run down, and by bringing to it his best energies, soon established a most flourishing trade,- to give a full history of which would require more space than we have at our disposal, hence the following brief outline. The business was established by his father, who had purchased a small concern on West Water street, in 1849. Remaining there till 1852, he removed to the present premises on Spring street, and in con- nection with his own manufacture of carriages and wagons, introduced eastern made carriages. After several years a partner was admitted, and the man- ufacturing confined to carriages, buggies and sleighs. The firm was dissolved in 1857, and during the suc- ceeding ten years his father conducted it in his own name, and at the end of that time turned it over to its present proprietor. Without any practical knowledge of the business, but with fine executive ability, and a capital of four thousand dollars, he started out in his new enterprise. The number of hands employed has, in the nine years during which he has been in charge of the establishment,
increased from ten to over thirty, and the amount of work in like proportion. The present annual product from the sale of his own work is fifty thousand dollars. The extent of the premises is two hundred by fifty feet, and the quality of the work unsurpassed by any in the East or West, having in all of its several lines been awarded the first pre- miums at various State fairs. Mr. Ogden owes his success entirely to his own effort. When entering upon his enterprise his first object was to establish a reputation, which he did by producing a superior quality of work, and thus meeting the highest de- mands of the trade. He has given his personal at- tention to the management of his business, and by industry and untiring effort has become known, far and near, for the beauty, utility and durability of his work.
In political affairs Mr. Ogden has never taken any active part, finding in his vocation ample scope for the employment of all his time and talents. His views, however, coincide in the main with the repub- lican party.
His religious sentiments are orthodox.
He was married on the 28th of October, 1873, to Miss M. Elizabeth Noxon, daughter of Judge James Noxon, and granddaughter of Judge B. Davis Noxon, of Syracuse, New York.
EUGENE F. WARREN,
ALBANY.
T' THE subject of this sketch, a native of Fort Covington, New York, was born June 30, 1833, and is the son of Lemuel Warren, Montpelier, Vermont, and Betsy R. née Richardson, of Washing- ton county, New York. When Eugene was but five years of age his family started for the West to regain the fortune which the father had unfortunately lost through speculation and sickness. Landing at Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, on July 5, 1838, they proceeded thence to Janesville, Wisconsin, a small town situ- ated upon Rock river. Here, although " times were hard," his father and mother, with the assistance of his three eldest brothers and eldest sister, succeeded in making a living. Three years subsequent to their arrival at Janesville they settled upon a farm in the town of Union, now known as Center, situated on the Madison road at a distance of twelve miles from Janesville. Here Eugene first commenced those
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